Paying attention to parental mental health: is this our responsibility?
Dinah S. Reddihough and Elise Davis
01 Parenting stress
02 Clinical scenario
03 Ethical challenges
04 Challenges
05 The parents and the extended family
06 Challenges (video)
07 The clinicians
08 Challenges
09 The healthcare system (video)
10 Supporting mental well-being
11 Developing a surveillance system
12 How do we support...?
13 Themes for discussion
00 References
00 User Guide
00 Learning Account
Paying attention to parental mental health: is this our responsibility?
In this video interview, a mother shares her family’s experience of the challenges and joys of having a son with multiple disabilities. (22m54s)
In this module, you will learn about the central role that family members, particularly parents, play in determining the care received for their child.
The young person (child or adolescent) is the patient. But young people may not be able to express their views – because they are too young, cannot fully comprehend the situation or the implications of the choices to be made, and/or have difficulty communicating their preferences and perspectives. Additionally, young people may have different views to their caregivers, and both are important.
Therefore, family members, particularly parents, are central to all that we do. It is important both to identify parental concerns and distress and to help parents receive support for their own social and mental health issues as part of a family-centered care program.
Parenting any child comes with pride, sadness, disappointment, exhaustion and new energy. There are additional stressors when a child has a disability. But to help parents, we need to acknowledge the joy and fulfilment too. Many of the stressors that contribute to the difficulties parents face relate to lack of acceptance and inclusion of their child, and lack of practical and social support for themselves (i.e. social model for disability).
