Mental health is a prominent health issue that can affect more than just the single individual who has been diagnosed. This is especially true when examining families with children where the parent is the individual exhibiting signs of mental illness. It has been shown that children of mentally ill parents are “two to even 13 times more likely to develop psychosocial problems” (Van Loon, Van De Ven, Van Doesum, Hosma, & Witteman, 2017). It has been reported that nearly one-third of parents attending psychiatric services have children that are 18 years old or younger (Afzelius, Plantin, & Ostman, 2017). Although mental illness can be a familial process there is a significant need for psychiatric care givers of parents and social workers to work …show more content…
However, complications arise for parenting while experiencing mental health issues. Parental mental illness can be a consistent source of preoccupation. Parents frequently complain of feeling fatigue, body pain and worry about unpredictable behavior (Afzelius, Plantin, & Ostman, 2017). Mentally ill parents are usually cognizant regarding the risk that their children may be susceptible to mental health issues as well. This may be referred to transgenerational risk transmission. Transgenerational risks can include outside social influences, interactions between parent and child, prenatal factors and genetic predisposition (Van Loon et al., 2017). Parents may be reluctant to seek help due to a lack of financial resources, embarrassment, stigmatization or loss of custody of their children (Wahl, Bruland, Bauer, & Okan, 2017). Authors Afzelius, Plantin, and Ostman (2017) referred to these type of parents as ‘silent parents’. Silent parents “are those in need of parenting support but hide serious mental illness and receive psychiatric care only when it is urgent” (Afzelius, Plantin, & Ostman, 2017). Research has revealed that there are three dominant forms of parental need. Based on parental reporting, there is a need for pragmatic facilitation, support to address a child’s well-being and support for maintaining the status of being a good …show more content…
Social workers relay there is currently a feeling of dismissiveness and disinterest from psychiatrists regarding a patient’s children (Afzelius, Plantin, & Ostman, 2017). In addition, many parents are hesitant to reveal any information to social workers for a fear that their children may be taken from them. Training social workers on the clues and signs of children being affected by a parent’s mental illness would also be beneficial. This type of training would also make communication between agencies more
When a child is diagnosed with a mental illness, parents and families have to adapt and adjust to a new lifestyle.
begun to question their parenting abilities, and this allowed them to shift the blame from themselves. On the other hand, they had a very limited understanding of mental illness. In particular, the concept of mental illness itself was not something they were terribly familiar with. For my parents, problems of the mind were problems that existed within the scope of personal will power.
From reading and reflecting her personal experience and journey with her sister, Pamela, I acquired a personal outlook of the deteriorating effects of mental illness as a whole, discovering how one individual’s symptoms could significantly impact others such as family and friends. From this new perspective mental health counseling provides a dominate field within not only individuals who may suffer mental illness such as Pamela, but also serve as a breaking point for family and friends who also travel through the illness, such as Carolyn.
Mills, Terry L., Zenta Gomez-Smith and Jessica M. De Leon. "Skipped Generation Families: Sources of Psychological Distress Among Grandmothers of Grandchildren Who Live in Homes Where Neither Parent Is Present." Marriage & Family Review 37.1-2 (2005): 191-212. Web. 18 July 2014.
Family Psychoeducation for Schizophrenia has previously been supported in treatment recommendations and guidelines for best practise in hospitals. In their review of 15 new studies in the area, Lisa Dixon M.D (University of Maryland), Curtis Adams M.D (University of Maryland) and Alicia Luckstead M.D (University of Maryland) reinforce support for family psychoeducation for schizophrenia.
When a loved one has a mental illness, it can be a challenge for the whole family: parents, siblings, friends and relatives. Coping with a mentally challenged child "is a shared experience for families and can affect all aspects of family functioning" (Reichman, year, pp.). From the movie, the Grape family is not only ...
New Directions for Mental Health Services 53:33-41 Annotated further reading Fadden G 1998 Family intervention. In: Brooker C, Repper J (eds) Serious mental health problems in the community: policy, practice and research. Baillière Tindall, London This chapter provides a comprehensive and up-to-date review of the research literature on family intervention. Nelson H 1997 Cognitive behavioural therapy with schizophrenia.
Although medical social workers have always played a role in helping loved ones adjust to significant illness in a family member and in securing needed resources to pay for medical care (Furstenberg & Olson, 1984), a new role for mental health professionals in the care of those afflicted with disease has emerged. D...
Chien, W. (2010). Stress of Family Members in Caring for a Relative with Schizophrenia. New York: Nova Science Publishers.
Mental illness related to low socioeconomic status (SES) conditions lead to interference of educational pursuits and finding employment; thus trapping the family in a cycle of poverty. Obstacles in accessing quality mental health car...
To begin with, a “Parent and Child Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Mental Illness: A Pilot Study.” is an article about a case study between parents and children who suffer from a mental illness. Each person interprets what a mental illness is in their own way. This article deals with how parents and children
There are a lot of children that fall through the cracks of the social welfare department. Because of this new parenting style, there have been concerns about the children and the children’s welfare. We cannot assume that parents are adequate caregivers, and the children are mature enough to watch themselves. Law enforcement has been called for this new parenting style for the parent’s leaving their children unattended;
Children are a crucial part of society. They participate in almost all aspects of a society whether it is in schools, community activities, or in the workforce. However, not all children develop the same skills and are granted the same opportunities as others because of a mental illness. Mental illnesses are as serious as physical illnesses and they negatively affect a child’s life. There are a variety of mental illnesses children may have with different levels of severity; mental illnesses hinder childhood development, and they affect a child’s social and home life.
Mostly, from all the articles that I already read, there are several issues that was stated on that articles on about the difficulties and challenges that was faced by the family caregivers in having a person with mental illness and how were the family caregivers will have accepted it on positive and negative elements (Ennis E, 2013). The same issue that mostly the articles that was mentioned on about the stigmatized that was faced by the family caregivers on person with mental illness. The experiences of family members of people with mental illness include stigmatized social interactions, high levels of stress, and ongoing caregiver burden (Riebschleger J, Scheid J, Luz C, Mickus M, Liszewski C, Eaton M, 2008). The other researcher also mentioned persons with serious mental illness often engage in behaviours that are frightening, troublesome, disruptive, or at least annoying, and many relatives are obliged to control, manage, or tolerate these behaviours (K, Masunga. Iseselo.
The importance of family and friends is critical in for mentally ill patients. This is especially true for women with low income (Ichiro Kawachi, Lisa F. Berkman, 2001). Promoting more counseling and support group can increase the quality of mental health because individuals are able to talk their problems and express themselves without any restraints. Home counseling for families with children under the age of five can help train parent to become more efficient parents by enhancing their interaction with their children to increase mental health for their children and by improving family and work balance. Senior also benefit from social interaction. Seniors are at risk for many mental illness because of social isolation, death of family member and loss of some rights like driving. So being able to talk to someone decreases their chances of developing