CAMHS Parental Mental Health Resources

Our Time is a charity who helps young people affected by parental mental illness. They offer:

  • KidsTime workshops: A fun, protected space where young people can express themselves, interact socially, share experiences and learn about mental illness through discussion, games and drama. Nearest locations are in Newham and Tower Hamlets (see https://ourtime.org.uk/kidstime-workshop-locations/ for updates).
  • The Who Cares? Programme: Provides a comprehensive portfolio of materials and a support system for teachers and students to address the needs of young people affected by parental mental illness, and the attitudes of others towards them.
  • London Bubble Theatre Workshops: Gives children of parents with mental illness the opportunity to learn new skills, develop communication skills, and enhance self-esteem. It is held in the summer for 11-18 year olds.

Rethink Tower Hamlets provides one-to-one support, as well as training, peer support, respite, wellbeing packages and a monthly carers support group.

The National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACOA) offers help and advice for children and young people whose parent or carer has an alcohol problem that’s affecting their emotional and mental health wellbeing.

Young Minds supports the emotional and mental health wellbeing of young people. It may be useful for children who have a parent with a mental health problem to find out more about their problem, and any medications they are taking. Resources for these can be found at:

Childline UK is a service for children and young people. They have an advice page on supporting a family member with a mental health issue and includes:

They also offer support and children/young people can call, chat online with a counsellor, or send an email (https://www.childline.org.uk/get-support/).

Perinatal parent infant mental health service (PPIMHS) is a specialist psychiatric and psychological service. The team is made up of three groups of clinicians: perinatal psychiatrists, perinatal community mental health practitioners, and psychotherapists/psychologists. The psychiatric component of the service works with women with mental health problems during pregnancy and up to a year postnatally. The psychological component of the service works with parents and children up until the age of three to address attachment difficulties to prevent complex mental health problems. Self-referrals and professional referrals are accepted

Children of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI) is a national initiative funded by the Australian government and offers free resources for both children, young people, and parents.

USEFUL BOOKS/GUIDES

Gloucestershire Young Carers has produced a booklet designed by young carers to help young carers understand more about mental illness in the family. It explains disorders and illnesses, defines mental illness, explains mental health and the law, and advice on how to take care of yourself.

Link: http://www.glosyoungcarers.org.uk/wp- content/uploads/2014/09/CS2214_MindMyths-and-Me_2014v3.pdf

Children of Parents with a Mental Illness has designed a booklet for teenagers aged 12- 15 and above to help them better understand their parent’s mental illness.

Link: https://www.flipsnack.com/copmi/when-your-parent-has-a-mental-illness- fdnqd000c.html

The Wise Mouse by Virginia Ironside

This book aims to help 5 to 11 year olds understand what is happening to a family member who may be experiencing a mental illness. (as recommended by Young Minds)

Even Mummy Cries by Naomi Hunter

This picture book is aimed at younger children to reassure them they are not to blame for any sadness experienced by their parents. (as recommended by COPMI)

The Illustrated Mum by Jacqueline Wilson

This is a young adult novel aimed at adolescents and it is about a mother grappling with mental illness and its effect on her two daughters (as recommended by COPMI).

Wishing Wellness: A Workbook for Children of Parents with Mental Illness by Lisa Anne Clarke

This a workbook for the child aged between 6-12 whose mother or father is suffering from a serious mental illness. Packed with information, interactive questions, and fun activities, it's an ideal tool for children and their therapists or other professional mental health workers.

Booklets by the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation

A set of leaflets for children whose parents are admitted to a mental health ward, developed to support families. They can be accessed through https://www.slam.nhs.uk/patients-and- carers/patient-information/information-for-children.

Parental mental health and child welfare – a young person’s story by Social Care Institute for Excellence

Barnardo’s is a charity for young carers from ages 8-18; so any young person with caring responsibilities of any capacity. They may be referred to the service by a Redbridge service, by their parents, schools, or social services. Some support provided by them are mainly through their Wellbeing Hub and Young Carers’ Service:

  • Homework club which is held Tuesday's from 4-6pm
  • A monthly activities club that is held once a month on Fridays
  • Half term and summertime activities such as taking them to malls, movies, parks, or museums etc.
  • A senior young carers group for individuals aged 16+ where they take them out to do monthly activities.
  • 1:1 support when needed which is dependent on the individual needs of the children, and they arrange different events throughout the year such as career fairs, first aid training, expert panels etc.

Location: Wellbeing Hub Indigo at 13 Granville Ilford IG1 4RU. Contact information: 02085542888, Indigo2@barnardos.org.uk

Honey Pot works with young carers ages 5-12 and work throughout London, the South West and the South East of England. They accept referrals from professionals (eg. teachers, doctors, and social workers) at https://www.honeypot.org.uk/ask-for-support/.

Imago works with young carers in Havering, Southward, and Bexley and offer services outside of London in Kent and East Sussex as well. They provide information. advice, social activities and individual support for children between the ages of 8-18. To make a referral there is an online form that needs to be filled out at https://www.imago.community/Children-and-Young-People or you can call at 0300 111 1110.

Family Action (Young Carer’s Service) is a charity that helps children and families, and their young carers’ service offers support, activities and days out, groups to learn new skills and meet people, and links to other useful services. They can be contacted at Family Action Newham Young Carers Service, Early Intervention Centre, 1 London Road, Plaistow, E13 0AT.
Tel: 020 8470 7782 Email: newhamycs@family-action.org.uk

RESOURCES FOR SCHOOLS

Our Time

The Who Cares? Programme can be implemented in school and the following PDF details what is needed to prepare: https://ourtime.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Preparation-and-support- for-school-staff_final_v2.pdf

They also have a guide to setting up a young carers’ group at school, including advice and guidance on structuring each session and best practice approaches. The PDF can be accessed here https://ourtime.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Setting-up-a-young-carers-group-in-a-school- final-1.pdf

Additionally, they have a guide designed to help school staff engage with parents when there are mental health issues. The guide covers the following key principles and also includes a case study at the end. It can be downloaded from https://ourtime.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Engaging- with-parents-final.pdf.

Mentally Healthy Schools

A handy informative guide to what is parental mental health, how it can affect their children and how to spot this, and what schools can do as protective measures and intervention. It can be accessed from https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/risks-and-protective-factors/poor- parental-mental-health/.

Supporting Young Carers in Schools: A Step-by-step Guide for Leaders, Teachers and Non-teaching Staff by Carers Trust & The Children’s Society

This resource has been designed with teachers and school staff to help make the identification and support of young carers in schools as easy as possible. It is for use in secondary and primary schools in England but could be easily adapted for use in the rest of the UK.

Link: https://www.caringtogether.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Final-editable-version-Feb- 2017-CTC-Branded.pdf

Supporting children of parents with a mental illness: A resource for primary school workers This is a handy information guide on how to support children of parents with a mental illness. Link: http://www.copmi.net.au/documents/product-downloads/80-primary-schools/file

RESOURCES FOR PARENTS

Children of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI) is a national initiative funded by the Australian government and offers free resources for parents that cover a range of topics: recovery and parenting, understanding your mental illness, managing conflict, support networks, helping your child and family, and how to talk to your child about mental illness.

PANDAS is a community offering peer-to-peer support for parents, family and your network. It is for parents experiencing postnatal depression.

Family Lives offers a free and confidential service for families in England and Wales for emotional support, information, guidance and advice on any aspect of parenting and family life.

  • Helpline: 0808 800 2222 (Mon-Fri 9am – 9pm, Sat-Sun 10am – 3pm)

YoungMinds has a A-Z parent guide on how to support children and young people on a range of problems, including parental mental illness.

Royal College of Psychiatrists has an information page on the problems encountered by children who have a parent with a mental illness, and gives some practical advice as to how to deal with these problems.

USEFUL BOOKS/GUIDES

Parenting with a Mental Health Problem by Mind

A PDF guide to parenting with a mental health problem that explains some difficulties that may be faced and describes available support and suggestions to help the parent and their children too.

Link: https://www.mind.org.uk/media-a/2933/parenting-with-a-mental-health- problem-2016.pdf

How to Cope as a Parent with a Mental Health Problem by Mind

A PDF guide to coping as a parent with a mental health problem. It suggests what you can do to help yourself and your children, and explains what support is available. It also includes information for friends and family.

Link: https://www.slamrecoverycollege.co.uk/uploads/2/6/5/2/26525995/ how_to_cope_as_a_parent_with_a_mh_problem.pdf

Parenting with a Mental Illness by Our Time

A short booklet with answers to FAQs, useful links and information about parenting with a mental illness.

(https://ourtime.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Parenting-with-a-mental- illness_final.pdf)

Parenting and Mental Health by AYCES (Action for Young Carers, Education & Support)

A recovery toolkit on parenting and mental health, it covers information for parents of children, teenagers, and young adults and what to say/where to start.

Link: https://www.swlstg.nhs.uk/documents/related-documents/pateints-andf- carers/for-carers/support-for-younger-carers/76-final-parenting-and-mental- health-toolkit/file

How Can I Help My Child? by COPMI

This reflective guide helps parents with mental illness to reflect on their family's strengths and consider changes that can be made to reduce vulnerabilities.

Link: https://www.flipsnack.com/copmi/how-can-i-help-my-child-fdzn2immv.html