Information for children, young people & families

 Mental Illness is common, in fact...

• 20% of adults are affected by some form of mental health disorder every year.
• 3% of adults have a severe mental disorder.
• Anxiety disorder and depression are the most common mental health disorders.
• Anyone can be affected by mental illness.
• Most people with a mental illness recover when they receive ongoing treatment and support.

• Mental health, and in particular mental illness, is commonly misunderstood, leading to stigma.
• Stigma attached to mental illness can make it difficult for people to ask for help and can lead to isolation from family, friends and community.
• It can prevent families and the person with the illness from getting support when it is most needed.
• Stigma is often a result of inaccurate representations in the media or general community.
• The effects of stigma can be as distressing as the illness.

• Try talking about mental illnesses openly with people that you meet - it is surprising how many people are affected by mental illness but have been too afraid of rejection to discuss it openly. 

• Parenting is hard work.
• All parents struggle at times. Most families need help from time to time from friends and relatives or professionals.
• It’s OK to ask for help.
• Parents who have a mental illness may be afraid that by asking for help, they will be judged as ‘bad parents’. Yet many people with a mental illness successfully raise their families.

• As a parent, it is important to look after yourself.
• This may mean arranging regular breaks from your role as a parent such as spending time with friends or family.
• Respite care can be a useful option to explore as part of a self-care plan.
• Children and parents benefit from space apart as well as times together. This assists children to discover and explore the world around them safely and independently.

• Parents may experience difficulty discussing their mental illness with their children. They might think that if they talk openly about their illness and how it makes them feel, their children will be confused or won’t understand.
• However, children worry less about something if they understand it and know they are not alone in their experiences.
• Answering questions and providing honest explanations to children helps to stop them from filling in gaps with wrong information. Accurate information can reassure them that they are not at fault as they may also feel that they are somehow to blame for their parent’s condition.
• Providing opportunities for children to talk with their parent or other trusted adults about mental health issues might help reduce their worries.
• If you need some encouragement and some guidelines for talking to your children, check out these web pages.

• Our Resourcesweb-pages are full of useful references. Please select an option from the menu on the left. 
• Local councils provide a range of services for children, families and people with disabilities including mental illness.
• Talk to your GP about support services.