Supporting Parents with Mental Health Issues

Understanding the Context

Parental mental health is a significant factor in many child and family social work cases. Mental health difficulties are common—affecting around one in four adults—and most parents with mental health problems parent their children well, particularly with appropriate support.

The key question is not whether a parent has a mental health condition, but whether that condition, in combination with other factors, affects their ability to meet their child's needs.

Common Mental Health Conditions

Depression

• Low mood, fatigue, loss of interest
• May affect responsiveness to children
• Very common, often treatable

Anxiety

• Excessive worry, panic, avoidance
• May lead to overprotective parenting
• Can affect daily functioning

Bipolar Disorder

• Periods of mania and depression
• May affect parenting during episodes
• Often manageable with medication

Personality Disorders

• Affect relationships and emotional regulation
• May impact parent-child attachment
• Often linked to trauma history

Psychosis

• Affects perception of reality
• May require hospital admission
• Risk varies significantly

Impact on Children

Potential Effects

• Worry and anxiety about their parent
• Taking on caring responsibilities
• Disruption to routines and stability
• Impact on their own emotional development
• Increased risk of mental health difficulties themselves

Protective Factors

• Other supportive adults in the child's life
• Understanding of the parent's illness
• Stability in daily routines
• Parent's insight and engagement with treatment

Assessment

Key Questions

• What is the diagnosis and history?
• What is the current presentation?
• How does the condition affect parenting?
• What treatment is in place?
• What is the prognosis?
• What support does the parent have?

Understanding Impact

• How does the condition affect daily routines?
• Can the parent respond to the child's emotional needs?
• Is the child taking on inappropriate responsibilities?
• What happens during acute episodes?

Working with Mental Health Services

Key Partners

• Community mental health teams
• Crisis teams
• GPs
• Psychiatric services
• Perinatal mental health services

Information Sharing

• Seek consent to share information
• Use safeguarding pathways when needed
• Establish communication protocols
• Attend joint meetings where possible

Supporting the Family

Parent Support

• Encourage engagement with treatment
• Link to support services
• Address practical needs
• Support during crisis

Child Support

• Age-appropriate explanations
• Reassure it's not their fault
• Identify other supportive adults
• Consider young carer support

Crisis Planning

Have clear plans for when the parent becomes unwell:

• Who will care for the children?
• What are the warning signs?
• Who should be contacted?
• What do the children need to know?
• How will they be kept informed?

Common Pitfalls

Things to Avoid

• Assuming mental illness means poor parenting
• Ignoring mental health in assessments
• Not liaising with mental health services
• Expecting the parent to manage without support
• Overlooking the child's experience

Recording

Good recording should include:

• Clear description of the condition and its effects
• Functional impact on parenting
• Child's experience and views
• Treatment and support in place
• Crisis plans
• Liaison with mental health services

Conclusion

Working with parents with mental health issues requires a balanced approach that recognises both the parent's needs and the child's welfare. Good practice involves understanding the specific condition, assessing functional impact, working closely with mental health services, and putting in place appropriate support and crisis plans. Most parents with mental health difficulties can parent successfully with the right support.