|
Mental
illnesses in parents represent a risk for children in the
family. These children have a higher risk for developing mental
illnesses than other children. When both parents are mentally
ill, the chance is even greater that the child might become
mentally ill.
The risk
is particularly strong when a parent has one or more of the
following: Bipolar Disorder, an anxiety disorder, ADHD, schizophrenia,
alcoholism or other drug abuse, or depression. Risk can be
inherited from parents, through the genes.
An inconsistent,
unpredictable family environment also contributes to psychiatric
illness in children. Mental illness of a parent can put stress
on the marriage and affect the parenting abilities of the
couple, which in turn can harm the child.
Some protective
or positive facts that can decrease the risk to children include:
- Knowledge
that their parent(s) is ill and that they are not to blame
- Help
and support from family members
- A stable
home environment
- Psychotherapy
for the child and the parent(s)
- A sense
of being loved by the ill parent
- A naturally
stable and happy personality in the child
- Positive
self esteem
- Inner
strength and good coping skills in the child
- A strong
relationship with a healthy adult
- Friendships,
positive peer relationships
- Interest
in and success at school
- Healthy
interests outside the home for the child
- Help
from outside the family to improve the family environment
(for example, marital psychotherapy or parenting classes)
Medical,
mental health or social service professionals working with
mentally ill adults need to inquire about the children and
adolescents, especially about their mental health and emotional
development. It is often useful for such youngsters to be
referred to a child and adolescent psychiatrist for an evaluation.
Individual
or family psychiatric treatment can help a child toward healthy
development, despite the problem of the parental psychiatric
illness. The child and adolescent psychiatrist can help the
family work with the positive elements in the home and the
natural strengths of the child. With treatment, the family
can learn ways to lessen the effects of the parent's mental
illness on the child.
Unfortunately,
families, professionals, and society often pay most attention
to the mentally ill parent, and ignore the children in the
family. Providing more attention and support to the children
of a psychiatrically ill parent is an important consideration
when treating the parent.
For more
information see Facts for Families: #24 Know When to Seek
Help for Your Child, #25 Know Where to Seek Help for your
Child, and #52 Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation. See also:
Your Child (1998 Harper Collins)/Your Adolescent
(1999 Harper Collins).
Article
#39 Updated 05/00
|
