Aims and Objectives

In 2005, Maybery and Reupert, estimated that there were between 21% and 23% of children living in Australian households where at least one parent has a mental illness, equating to just over a million children at that time (see more Facts & Figures). Not all children of parents with a mental illness will experience difficulties as a result of their parent's ill health. However a combination of genetic inheritance and a range of factors often associated with mentally ill adults can increase risks to their children's well-being.

Aim

The overall aim of the Australian COPMI initiative is to promote better mental health outcomes for children (0 - 18 years) of parents with a mental health problem or disorder.

Objectives

The objectives of the current phase of the initiative (2008 - mid 2010) are:

• To increase the availability of information for workers and families about:
  • the promotion of factors to enhance children's resilience
  • the reduction of risk factors for children, and in relation to parental mental illness.
• To increase access to quality workforce development resources for people working with children and families affected by parental mental illness.
• To increase access by 'copmi' program planners and facilitators to:
  • knowledge, skills and evaluation personnel regarding relevant research literature and evaluation methods, models and techniques
  • information regarding the efficacy of programs, services and/or approaches.