Chronic physical illnesses - the effects on mental
health: information for parents, carers and anyone who works
with young people
About this leaflet
This is one in a series of leaflets for parents, teachers and
young people entitled Mental Health and Growing Up. The
aims of these leaflets are to provide practical, up-to-date
information about mental health problems (emotional, behavioural
and psychiatric disorders) that can affect children and young
people. This leaflet looks at the effects that a long physical
illness can have on a young person's mental health and offers
advice about how to recognise and deal with these problems.
Introduction
Children with a long-lasting physical illness are twice as
likely to suffer from emotional problems or disturbed behaviour.
This is especially true of physical illnesses that involve the
brain, such as epilepsy and cerebral palsy.
Why are mental health problems so common?
Serious illness or disability can cause a lot of work and
stress for everyone in the family, especially the parents. Children
who are ill have many more stressful experiences than children
without an illness. Most children will, at some time, get upset by
this. Sometimes, the upset feelings and behaviour can go on and on.
If they do, this can add to the child's health problems by making
their life even more difficult.
How does this affect the child and
family?
Following the diagnosis of a potentially serious or long-term
illness, most parents and children go through a process of coming
to terms with it.
Long-term effects
The affected child might have fewer opportunities to learn
everyday skills, and to develop their
interests and hobbies. Educational problems are also common:
- Your child might have to miss a lot of school and have
particular difficulties with learning.
- Be sure to be in touch with your child's teacher on a regular
basis. Your child might need extra help at school.
- Your child might see themselves as different from other
children, and they hate this.
- Some children may become depressed (see leaflet 34 on
depression in children and young people).
- Some children may be vulnerable to bullying (see leaflet 18 on
the emotional cost of bullying).
It is easy for you as parents to be overprotective of your
child. You may find it harder to say `no' than you normally would,
making it difficult to control your child. It is harder to allow
them to manage the `rough and tumble' of childhood.
Sometimes it can be difficult and confusing to cope with all
the different doctors, and other professionals involved with your
child's illness. This can be very stressful for everyone.
Brothers and sisters sometimes feel that they are being
neglected. They may feel embarrassed by their brother or
sister.They may feel responsible for them. They can miss out on
school or their social life, get bullied or lose friendships.
How to help
It's very important to remember that although long-lasting
illness does make things very difficult, most children and their
families cope well. It is only a minority who experience
problems.
- Live as normal a life as possible.
- Be open with your child about their difficulties.
- Restrict them as little as possible.
- Help them to get out and about with other children of their own
age.
- Encourage your child to be as independent as possible.
- Meet other families with similar experiences.
- Seek help if you feel that you're not managing.
A lot can be done to prevent further problems developing.
Parents who appreciate the emotional impact of the illness on the
child, and on the rest of the family, are much better placed to
spot problems early and do something about them.
Where can I get help?
Making sure that there is enough help and support is very
important. In addition to support from family and friends,
try:
- Contact a Family (see above for contact details)
- your general practitioner
- voluntary support groups
- social Services
- school
- health visitor
- school nurse.
If there are signs that your child is developing emotional or
behavioural problems, your general practitioner can refer you to
the local child and adolescent mental health service for specialist
advice. They may suggest that some family work could be helpful.
Also, it often helps to link up with the other professionals
involved in the ill child's care. This can help sort out any
problems related to the treatment, and make sure that everyone is
working together effectively.
References
- Carr, A. (ed.) (2000) 'What Works with Children and
Adolescents?' - A Critical Review of Psychological Interventions
with Children, Adolescents and their Families. London:
Brunner-Routledge.
- Rutter, M. & Taylor, E. (eds) (2002) 'Child and
Adolescent Psychiatry' (4th edn). London: Blackwell.
- Scott, A., Shaw, M. & Joughin, C. (eds) (2001) 'Finding
the Evidence' - A Gateway to the Literature in Child and Adolescent
Mental Health (2nd edn). London: Gaskell.
Sources of further information
- Contact a Family: for families with disabled children. 209_211
City Road, London EC1V 1JN; tel. 020 7608 8700; helpline 0808 808
3555; textphone 0808 808 3556; e-mail: helpline@cafamily.org.uk
website: www.cafamily.org.uk.
- The Back-Up Trust. A national charity supporting people
paralysed through spinal cord injury. The Business Village,
Broomhill Road, Wandsworth, London SW18 4JP; tel. 020 8875 1805;
www.backuptrust.org.uk.
- YoungMinds provides information and advice on child mental
health issues. 102-108 Clerkenwell Road, London EC1M 5SA; Parents'
Information Service 0800 018 2138; www.youngminds.org.uk.
- The Mental Health and Growing Up series contains 36
leaflets on a range of common mental health problems. To order the
pack, contact Book Sales at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, 17
Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PG; tel. 020 7235 2351, ext. 146; fax
020 7245 1231; e-mail: booksales@rcpsych.ac.uk, or
you can download them from this website.
© [2004] Royal College of
Psychiatrists. This leaflet may be downloaded, printed out,
photocopied and distributed free of charge as long as the Royal
College of Psychiatrists is properly credited and no profit is
gained from its use. Permission to reproduce it in any other way
must be obtained from the Head
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directly.
Please note that we are unable to offer advice on individual cases. Please see our FAQ for advice on getting help.
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