Being Seen and Heard: The Needs of Children of Parents with Mental Illness (DVD)
Dr Alan Cooklin
This is a training film designed for use by staff
involved in the care of parents with mental illness and their
children.
As many as 175,000 young people in the UK are involved in
caring for an adult with mental illness. These children usually
worry about their parents and feel largely unsupported. They may
blame themselves for the illness or fear that they will also
‘catch’ it. Children with a parent with mental illness often fall
through the professional net and are seen as nobody’s
responsibility. Nothing is explained to them, and they often
receive no help at all to deal with the effects of the parent’s
illness. These children need to be seen and heard.
All professionals working with adults with mental illness need
to stop and think about the needs of these young people. This
training package provides practical and creative suggestions on how
professionals can work effectively with children and parents and
encourages collaboration of the many agencies involved. It can also
be used in conjunction with the Department of Health’s Crossing
Bridges (1998) resource. The accompanying CD-ROM includes a
supporting training pack and a copy of the College’s council report
Patients as Parents (CR105)*.
The film is clearly divided into two main sections. Part I
shows children and parents relating their various experiences. Part
II focuses on solutions and the ways that professionals can help.
The stories are interspersed with comments from experts. The key
points of each sub-section are summarised in text on the
screen.
Part I begins with an example of a referral which includes a
discussion of what questions ought to be asked. Children and
parents relate their experiences and opinions. The young people
speak very frankly on what they believe is needed from
professionals, both at home and when visiting parents in
hospital.
Part II first examines ways in which professionals can help,
again with contributions from young people themselves. Tips are
given for talking with children, both on their own and in the
presence of parents or the whole family. Finally, details are shown
about the Kidstime Workshops – a special project being
carried out in the Camden area which uses play-writing and drama to
encourage children to express themselves.
"Extremely informative...as a training video it is excellent,
managing to give young carers a voice."
Young People Now
"Content is well organised and edited. ...A useful training
tool across professional groups and cultures."
Child and Adolescent Mental
Health
"Extremely useful for mixed groups of children's social
workers and mental health workers."
ADSS Inform
Wow! What a wonderful film! ...this is a must. This film makes
the point forcefully that the welfare of children is everyone's
business."
Mental Health Practice
"A film that is already being talked about. We have heard
of seasoned managers dabbing their eyes and teachers provoked to
anger."
Child and Adolescent Mental
Health
On the CD-ROM
The 32 page Training Pack includes:
- Handouts for use during a training session:
These list the key points made and can assist in note-taking.
- Guidance for the training organiser: Lists of
various issues and emotions (such as disruption of education and
self-isolation) are given with cross references to the video
sub-sections where these are mentioned.
- Suggestions for training group exercises and subjects for
further discussion.
- Detailed information on how to talk with
children: Extensive advice is given, along with practical
tips, such as playing visual games for support and the importance
of using a normal voice.
- A list of related literature and organisations which can offer
further help.
Patients as Parents (CR105)*: This 32 page council
report from the Royal College of Psychiatrists (2002) addresses the
needs and safety of children whose parents have mental illness. It
discusses and presents practice guidelines for a range of different
areas such as parental self-harm and parental psychiatric
diagnosis.
* = CR105 has now been
withdrawn. It is replaced by CR164: Parents as patients: Supporting the
needs of patients who are parents and their
children which can be downloaded and read
free-of-charge (January 2011).