Gresham CollegeGresham College

When a parent has a mental When a parent has a mental illness ...illness ...

Alan CooklinAlan Cooklin

Children of parents with Children of parents with mental illnessmental illness

65,000 Children and young people in 65,000 Children and young people in England and Wales defined as caring for England and Wales defined as caring for a parent with mental illness (Aldridge and a parent with mental illness (Aldridge and Becker)Becker)

But........But........ 1,000,000 children and young people in 1,000,000 children and young people in

UK significantly affected by a parent’s UK significantly affected by a parent’s mental illness.mental illness.

Patients with mental Patients with mental illnessillness

68% of women are parents68% of women are parents

AndAnd

57% of men57% of men

Effects on a childEffects on a child

About 70% of children report significant About 70% of children report significant difficultiesdifficulties

And....And....

With one ill parent , about 70 % of child With one ill parent , about 70 % of child having at least minor adjustment difficultieshaving at least minor adjustment difficulties

With 2 parents with With 2 parents with major mental illness.......major mental illness.......

Child can have up to 40% chance of Child can have up to 40% chance of developing serious mental illnessdeveloping serious mental illness

BUT.........BUT.........

Not as bad as it sounds....read on...Not as bad as it sounds....read on...

Still more likely Still more likely not to not to develop the develop the illness, than to develop it......illness, than to develop it......

AndAnd

Much that can be doneMuch that can be done

11stst hear from some children and young hear from some children and young people............................ people............................

RicciRicci

MathewMathew

ChineyeChineye

DianeDiane

NathanNathan

And little things And little things matter.....matter.....

Chineye 4 years on..........Chineye 4 years on..........

What children and young What children and young people say they need....people say they need....

1.To have a frank discussion about their 1.To have a frank discussion about their parent’s illness so they can think about the parent’s illness so they can think about the situation more objectively, and to have situation more objectively, and to have their questions answered honestly and their questions answered honestly and openly openly

2. To know that there is an adult who will act 2. To know that there is an adult who will act as their advocate as their advocate

3. To know that their situation is not 3. To know that their situation is not uncommon uncommon

4.To have access to a place or a group 4.To have access to a place or a group where they can mix with other children and where they can mix with other children and young people who have had similar young people who have had similar experiences experiences

5. To understand mental health problems5. To understand mental health problems

6. To know that they are responsible for the 6. To know that they are responsible for the illnessillness

7. Help with their fear that they might ‘catch’ 7. Help with their fear that they might ‘catch’ the illness the illness

8. To understand how mental health 8. To understand how mental health services workservices work

9. To know what to look out for if their 9. To know what to look out for if their parent is becoming illparent is becoming ill

10. To know what is normal behaviour for 10. To know what is normal behaviour for an adultan adult

11. To know how to access help11. To know how to access help

13. For their contribution to be 13. For their contribution to be recognisedrecognised

14. For their knowledge of their parent 14. For their knowledge of their parent and his or her illness to be listened to and his or her illness to be listened to and respectedand respected

19991999 – – Merseyside Young Merseyside Young CarersCarers

“…“…then the worst thing was when the then the worst thing was when the mental health services got involved…”mental health services got involved…”

How can we change that experience How can we change that experience for children and young people ?for children and young people ?

Explanation and having a chance to Explanation and having a chance to understand the illness is still top of understand the illness is still top of the list with all the children and the list with all the children and young people we have talked to young people we have talked to

And to meet the complaint the And to meet the complaint the explanations need to take account of explanations need to take account of what the children and young people what the children and young people may uniquely know themselves:may uniquely know themselves:

What makes a differenceWhat makes a difference

Finnish adoption studyFinnish adoption study But.....much smaller interventions can But.....much smaller interventions can

make a big difference:make a big difference:

= A neutral concerned adult to talk to - = A neutral concerned adult to talk to - not a not a therapist or counsellor.therapist or counsellor.

= Understanding the illness on the basis = Understanding the illness on the basis of a good explanationof a good explanation

And many young people And many young people know a lot.............know a lot.............

Some points for Some points for explanations..............explanations..............

Engage the child’s competenceEngage the child’s competence

Provide a medium which can connect Provide a medium which can connect child, parents and professionalschild, parents and professionals

Avoid patronisationAvoid patronisation

Bethlehem’s adaptation Bethlehem’s adaptation of the Wise Mouseof the Wise Mouse

And when there is no And when there is no explanation……..explanation……..

And still most children And still most children and young people receive and young people receive no proper no proper explanation........explanation........

Or an explanation without Or an explanation without shape or context………..shape or context………..

Where should this Where should this happen ? happen ?

Mental health teams, children and Mental health teams, children and families social services, child and families social services, child and adolescent mental health services, or adolescent mental health services, or voluntary bodiesvoluntary bodies

Often best is in young carer’s Often best is in young carer’s groups......but then there has to be a groups......but then there has to be a local one, local one, they – they – the workers – have to the workers – have to understand the illness, and the child has understand the illness, and the child has to be put in touch with themto be put in touch with them

The ‘Kidstime workshops’The ‘Kidstime workshops’

One explanation........One explanation........

Generic not diagnosticGeneric not diagnostic

‘‘Technical’ to increase emotional Technical’ to increase emotional distancedistance

And with encouragement And with encouragement some children will construct some children will construct their own imaginative their own imaginative explanations……….explanations……….