A new study by the national mental health charity SANE Australia, reveals many parents with a mental illness raising children lack support from health professionals and school staff, and they feel ashamed to ask for help.
SANE Australia found nearly half of the 330 parents survey said they have not sough help for their mental illness on occasions because they feared losing custody of their child
SANE Australia’s study found only around a third of survey respondents have told their child’s school they have a mental illness and half of these found the disclosure unhelpful leading to stigmatising by other parents and, in some cases, bullying of their child.
“It is unacceptable that in 2012, people are too embarrassed to say they have a mental illness. Not only is this unfair to the parent, it is also unfair to their child, whose health and education can suffer as a result,” says Jack Heath, CEO of SANE Australia.
“Many parents managing a mental illness are acutely aware that their illness is a recognised risk factor for their child to develop mental health problems later in life, such as depression. That’s why it’s so important they get support when they need it. It may be as simple as help to get their children to or from school, to sport practice or help with an evening meal,” Jack says.
The survey was conducted in partnership with COPMI, the national initiative for Children of Parents with a Mental Illness. SANE Australia is a national charity working for a better life for people affected by mental illness.
For more information on SANE Australia visit www.sane.org