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I Look After Daddy
Most serious mental illnesses pass down through families; they contain a hereditary component. The distress people with mental disorders are subjected to because they realise they might pass along their bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, major depression or other illness to their children it truly dreadful for many. Hereditary only accounts for part of the incidence of mental illness, of course, but there is another consequence for children whose parent(s) have a mental illness which is nearly impossible to escape: having to care for one, or even both parents. Becoming a parent to your own daddy or mummy. Until recently, the problems of such families has not received much attention. The impact of parental mental illness on children is complex. They are often forced to mature faster, taking on adult responsibilities at a very early age, but unlike children who have to care for physically handicapped parents or younger siblings, they have often had no adequate adult role model, and very little understanding of what a carer should do. These children are concerned about their parents, but have little understanding of their parent’s illness, few opportunities of getting te information they need, and precious little support. Typically, their parents are aware of the negative impact of the illness upon their children, particularly the way it disrupts everyday life, relationship building and education, But while parents see themselves as having difficulty caring for their children, the children are frequently confused and conflicted by the way they are thrust into the parental role. The potential struggle for control of the family unit and the alliances that form between well or relatively well members and less competent ones is damaging for both the present and ongong health of all family members. Mental illness is not a consistent entity. People have varying degrees of wellness and disorder over time, and varying degrees of insight. Imagine the plight of a young teenager who has had to seek legal assistance to have a parent placed in involuntary Most serious mental illnesses pass down through families; they contain a hereditary component. The distress people with mental disorders are subjected because they realise they might pass along their bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, major depression or other illness on to their children it truly dreadful for many. Hereditary only accounts for part of the incidence of mental illness, of course, but there is another consequence for children who have a mental illness which is nearly impossible to escape: having to care for a parent, or even both parents who have mental problems. Becming a parent to your own parent. Until recently, the problems of such families has received comparatively little attention. The impact of parental mental illness on their children is complex. They are often forced to mature faster, taking on adult responsibilities at a very early age, But unlike children who have to care for physically handicapped parents, they have often had no adequate dult role model, and very little understanding of what a carer shld do. These children are concerned about their parents, but have little understanding of their parent’s illness which they have very little chance of getting. Typically their parents are aware of the negative impact of the illness upon their children, particularly the way it disrupts to everyday life, especially relationship building and education, But while parents ee themselves as having difficulty caring for their children, the children are frequently confused and conflicted by the way they are thrust into the parental role. The potential struggle for control of the family unit and the alliances that form between well or relatively well members and less competent ones is damaging for both the present and ongiong health of all family members. Mental illness is not a consistent entity. People have varying degrees of wellness and disorder aver time, and varying degrees of insight. Imagine the plight of a young teenager who has had to seek legal assistance to have a parent placed in involuntary care when that parent is about to be released. Many of these conditions involve relapse even when appropriate medication and other treatment is adhered to. It may be the child who has to monitor, if not administer this medication, perhaps against the parents wishes. If their parent is now considered "well", the child now faces having to relinquish their role as head of the house to a mother or father whose recent behaviour may have been violent, or disorganised to the point where they were unable to pay bills or provide food, perhaps for many months. Experience teaches many that this is only a respite until the next episode. Despite the negative impact of illness, parents perceive their relationship with their children positively as do the children. Nevertheless, more collaborative and integrated child and adult mental health services, and the development of a more family-centred focus are obvious and urgent needs which are hardly being addressed.
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This intel was contributed by David Rich
David Rich
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May, 2012
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