"Families in which a parent has a mental illness are at increased risk of experiencing poverty, housing problems, family disruption and disorganization, marital conflict, reduction of social and leisure activities, disruption of children's schooling and isolation as a result of the parental illness (AICAFMHA 2001)".
The first onset of mental illness often occurs in adolescence. Young people with a parent with a mental illness are at a significantly increased risk of developing mental health problems, both now and latter in life. Apart from this increased risk, having a parent with a mental illness has a significant impact on the members of the family. Daily, children and adolescents in the family can face the stresses of caring for the parent. Stressors include the fear of developing a mental illness themselves; coping with the stigma that is attached to mental illness; and trying to manage the ordinary challenges of growing up, including going to school and managing friendships......
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Approximate Word Count: 1769
Approximate Pages: 7 (260 words per double-spaced page) |