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1 - What we want from adult psychiatrists and their colleagues: ‘Telling it like it is’

from Part I - Basic issues

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 August 2009

Sandra Bilsborough
Affiliation:
Barnados, Liverpool, UK
Michael Göpfert
Affiliation:
Webb House Democratic Therapeutic Community, Crewe
Jeni Webster
Affiliation:
5 Boroughs Partnership, Warrington
Mary V. Seeman
Affiliation:
University of Toronto
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Summary

Children and young people want professionals to listen to them, to talk to them and, above all, they want to be recognized as important to the parent they live with.

In November 1999 a small group of young people involved with Barnardos Action with Young Carers (AWYC) were invited to take part in a conference launching the report ‘Keeping the Family in Mind’ (Göpfert et al., 1999; Mahoney, Chapter 23). The project, like other Young Carer projects, provides a service for children and young people who live with someone with a mental health problem, many of whom take on caring roles and responsibilities. All of the young people who participated care for a parent with mental ill health and receive support from staff at the AWYC's project. We know from research and consultations with children and young people that they value being listened to and drawing upon their own experiences (see Cooklin, Chapter 21). They have some very important messages for professionals and policy makers.

Introduce yourself, tell us who you are and what your job is

Young people report that they are often ignored by professionals. They are not given information about what is going on in the family and who and why professionals are visiting. The way in which professionals deliver their service to a family can have a direct effect on other family members.

Have you any idea what it feels like for a complete stranger to come into your home, ignores you and then blames you for your home situation?[…]

Type
Chapter
Information
Parental Psychiatric Disorder
Distressed Parents and their Families
, pp. 3 - 7
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2004

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References

Falkov, A. (1998). Crossing Bridges. London: Department of Health
Göpfert, M., Harrison, P. & Mahoney, P. (1999). Keeping the Family in Mind. Liverpool: North Mersey Community NHS Trust, Barnardos and Save the Children
Joint Consultative Committee (1999). Young Carers' Mental Health Resource Pack. Liverpool: Consumer, Carer & Public Information Unit
Marlowe, J. (1996). Helpers, helplessness and self-help: ‘Shaping the silence’: a personal account. In Parental Psychiatric Disorder, ed. M. Göpfert, J. Webster & M. V. Seeman, pp. 99–106. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Sobkiewicz, T. (1996a). Our Special Dad. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh
Sobkiewicz, T. (1996b). Our Special Mom. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh
Ward, A. (1995). The impact of parental suicide on children and staff in residential care: a case study in the function of containment. Journal of Social Work Practice, 9, 23–32Google Scholar
Webster, J., Hatfield, B. & Mohamad, H. (1999). Assessment of parents by Approved Social Workers under the Mental Health Act 1983. Practice, 11, 5–18Google Scholar

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