Mental health services for parents affected by mental illness

TY - JOUR

T1 - Mental health services for parents affected by mental illness

AU - Krumm, Silvia

AU - Becker, Thomas

AU - Wiegand-Grefe, Silke

PY - 2013/7

Y1 - 2013/7

N2 - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Despite an increasing awareness of support needs of families affected by parental mental illness, there is a lack of adequate mental healthcare provision for parents. As contemporary mental health services are both user-focused and evidence based, the present review focuses on knowledge regarding the subjective perspective on parenting issues among affected parents and the evidence base for parenting programs.RECENT FINDINGS: There has been a shift in the research focus from adverse effects of parental mental illness on children toward inclusion and the subjective perspective in affected mothers and, more recently, fathers with mental health problems. Parents report on role conflicts, parenting difficulties, and stigma. Despite a broad spectrum of parental needs, many parents are reluctant to use services. There is an increasing evidence base for intervention programs.SUMMARY: Adequate care for parents affected by mental illness requires sensitivity for parents' subjective perspective, interagency collaboration, standard intake practice, high level of professional knowledge and skills, provision of family-friendly environments, evidence-based parenting programs comprising both individual and group approaches and peer support. There is a lack of research on other parenting needs such as desire for children, coping with custody loss, and childlessness related to mental illness.

AB - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Despite an increasing awareness of support needs of families affected by parental mental illness, there is a lack of adequate mental healthcare provision for parents. As contemporary mental health services are both user-focused and evidence based, the present review focuses on knowledge regarding the subjective perspective on parenting issues among affected parents and the evidence base for parenting programs.RECENT FINDINGS: There has been a shift in the research focus from adverse effects of parental mental illness on children toward inclusion and the subjective perspective in affected mothers and, more recently, fathers with mental health problems. Parents report on role conflicts, parenting difficulties, and stigma. Despite a broad spectrum of parental needs, many parents are reluctant to use services. There is an increasing evidence base for intervention programs.SUMMARY: Adequate care for parents affected by mental illness requires sensitivity for parents' subjective perspective, interagency collaboration, standard intake practice, high level of professional knowledge and skills, provision of family-friendly environments, evidence-based parenting programs comprising both individual and group approaches and peer support. There is a lack of research on other parenting needs such as desire for children, coping with custody loss, and childlessness related to mental illness.

KW - Health Services Needs and Demand

KW - Humans

KW - Mental Disorders

KW - Mental Health Services

KW - Parenting

KW - Parents

KW - Patient Acceptance of Health Care

KW - Psychotherapy

KW - Journal Article

KW - Review

U2 - 10.1097/YCO.0b013e328361e580

DO - 10.1097/YCO.0b013e328361e580

M3 - SCORING: Review article

C2 - 23689546

VL - 26

SP - 362

EP - 368

JO - CURR OPIN PSYCHIATR

JF - CURR OPIN PSYCHIATR

SN - 0951-7367

IS - 4

ER -