Needs, expectations and consequences for children growing up in a family where the parent has a mental illness

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Mental Health Services Research
• Social Work

Background:

• Lack of pan-European guidelines for supporting children of parents with mental illness.
• Initiation of the EU project CAMILLE to address this gap.
• Need for understanding children's experiences from multiple perspectives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the needs, expectations, and consequences for children living with a parent with mental illness.
• To gather insights from professionals and family members involved with mentally ill parents.
• To inform the development of targeted support strategies.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research conducted across seven European countries.
• Involved 96 participants: professionals, parents with mental illness, adult children, and partners.
• Framework analysis method employed for data interpretation.

Main Results:

• Key consequences for children include role reversal, emotional/behavioral problems, lack of parental attention, and stigma.
• Identified needs encompass emotional support, security, and multidisciplinary assistance.
• Professionals should recognize children's specific challenges and support parental roles.

Conclusions:

• Professionals working with parents with mental illness must acknowledge the impact on children.
• Multi-agency collaboration is crucial for comprehensive child support.
• Schools play a vital role in providing counseling and combating stigma.