Support for Children of Parents With Mental Illness: An Analysis of Patients’ Health Records

IntroductionChildren of parents with a mental illness (COPMI) are at risk of behavioral, emotional, and cognitive difficulties and diagnoses. Support and information about parents’ mental illness may contribute to improve their lives, which is the purpose of the intervention Child Talks (CT). This s...

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Main Authors: Kjersti Bergum Kristensen, Camilla Lauritzen, Charlotte Reedtz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychiatry
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.778236/full
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author Kjersti Bergum Kristensen
Camilla Lauritzen
Charlotte Reedtz
author_facet Kjersti Bergum Kristensen
Camilla Lauritzen
Charlotte Reedtz
author_sort Kjersti Bergum Kristensen
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionChildren of parents with a mental illness (COPMI) are at risk of behavioral, emotional, and cognitive difficulties and diagnoses. Support and information about parents’ mental illness may contribute to improve their lives, which is the purpose of the intervention Child Talks (CT). This study aimed to investigate the participation rate of CT, characteristics of participating patients and children, and themes in sessions with children.Materials and MethodsData were collected from 424 electronic patient journals written by healthcare professionals (H) for patients admitted to a clinic for mental health and substance use disorders in the years 2010–2015. Both quantitative statistical analysis and qualitative thematic analysis were carried out.ResultsEighteen percent of assessed parents with minor children received the CT intervention and children participated in half of them. Participating children more often knew about their parent’s treatment and condition when initially assessed, and more often lived with the hospitalized parent. Three main themes were identified in sessions with children; communication about parental mental illness within the family, childrens’ struggles, and healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) evaluation of the child’s situation and need for further support.DiscussionSessions with patients’ children appeared to be relatively rare, and participating children did not necessarily receive appropriate information, support, or follow-up. To ensure that HCPs provide quality support and follow-up to COPMI, the routines and the training of HCPs need to be improved.
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spelling doaj.art-09e4baa503254b05a7aa8a1e090218752022-12-22T01:41:16ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402022-03-011310.3389/fpsyt.2022.778236778236Support for Children of Parents With Mental Illness: An Analysis of Patients’ Health RecordsKjersti Bergum KristensenCamilla LauritzenCharlotte ReedtzIntroductionChildren of parents with a mental illness (COPMI) are at risk of behavioral, emotional, and cognitive difficulties and diagnoses. Support and information about parents’ mental illness may contribute to improve their lives, which is the purpose of the intervention Child Talks (CT). This study aimed to investigate the participation rate of CT, characteristics of participating patients and children, and themes in sessions with children.Materials and MethodsData were collected from 424 electronic patient journals written by healthcare professionals (H) for patients admitted to a clinic for mental health and substance use disorders in the years 2010–2015. Both quantitative statistical analysis and qualitative thematic analysis were carried out.ResultsEighteen percent of assessed parents with minor children received the CT intervention and children participated in half of them. Participating children more often knew about their parent’s treatment and condition when initially assessed, and more often lived with the hospitalized parent. Three main themes were identified in sessions with children; communication about parental mental illness within the family, childrens’ struggles, and healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) evaluation of the child’s situation and need for further support.DiscussionSessions with patients’ children appeared to be relatively rare, and participating children did not necessarily receive appropriate information, support, or follow-up. To ensure that HCPs provide quality support and follow-up to COPMI, the routines and the training of HCPs need to be improved.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.778236/fullchildren of parents with mental illnessparental mental illnessmental healthcare services for adultshealthcare professionalspreventive interventionsupport of patients’ children
spellingShingle Kjersti Bergum Kristensen
Camilla Lauritzen
Charlotte Reedtz
Support for Children of Parents With Mental Illness: An Analysis of Patients’ Health Records
Frontiers in Psychiatry
children of parents with mental illness
parental mental illness
mental healthcare services for adults
healthcare professionals
preventive intervention
support of patients’ children
title Support for Children of Parents With Mental Illness: An Analysis of Patients’ Health Records
title_full Support for Children of Parents With Mental Illness: An Analysis of Patients’ Health Records
title_fullStr Support for Children of Parents With Mental Illness: An Analysis of Patients’ Health Records
title_full_unstemmed Support for Children of Parents With Mental Illness: An Analysis of Patients’ Health Records
title_short Support for Children of Parents With Mental Illness: An Analysis of Patients’ Health Records
title_sort support for children of parents with mental illness an analysis of patients health records
topic children of parents with mental illness
parental mental illness
mental healthcare services for adults
healthcare professionals
preventive intervention
support of patients’ children
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.778236/full
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