Resources for children aged 7-12 years

Book/s

Website/Online

Helpline/s

Package/Kits

Factsheet/Pamphlets

Newsletter/s

CD/DVD/Videos

Care Plans

Other Literature

Book/s

A Terrible Thing Happened   Margaret M. Holmes (Published by Magination Press)   2000
A picture book for 4-8 year old children who have witnessed any kind of violent or traumatic episode. It uses friendly animal characters to tell the story, which centres around Sherman, who has had something terrible happen to him. The story explores the ways this made him feel and what helped him to feel better.
Available via: Web
Web:http://www.maginationpress.com

Better Ways to Better Days   Town of Rockingham and City of Kwinana (Western Australia)  
A booklet designed for young people whose parent of carer has a mental health and/or drug and alcohol problem.
Available via: Phone
Town of Kwinana, Community Development Officer or City of Rockingham, Coordinator Youth Services
 9439 0206/ 9528 0333
Web:http://www.copmi.net.au/jsp/resources/files/bet_way_bet_day.pdf

Big and Me   David Miller   2008
Big and Small are machines that work together as a team. ?But some days Big goes a bit wobbly, and I get a lot worried.? Big malfunctions in a variety of ways and Small tries to help with the assistance of The Boss and Mechanic. The story is a metaphor for a child living with an adult who suffers from mental illness. Big and Me is dramatically illustrated with paper sculpture.
Available via: Bookstore/Retail
Ford St Publishing
Web:http://www.fordstreetpublishing.com/

Can I Catch It Like A Cold?   Gretchen Kelbaugh  
A story to help children understand a parent's depression. Aimed at children in the 5-9 year age range.
Available via: Web
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
33 Russell Street Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 2S1 Email:  marketing@camh.net
Web:http://www.camh.net

Caring Around The Clock   Unlisted author  
Booklet with information and support for young people. This publication is an illustrated 16-page booklet designed to help young carers cope with the pressure they face.
Available via: Web
Web:http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/campaigns/pinc/

Family Talk: Tips and information for families where a parent has a mental health problem or disorder.   COPMI  
A booklet written with and for families in which a parent has a mental illness or mental health problem and contains tips and information for parents, children and young people and others who care, Also included are 'press out' cards for children and young people to use to record their important phone numbers. Available from this site or via the online order form.
Available via: Web
COPMI
Web:http://www.copmi.net.au

Handle With Care   L. Kaszanski & G Ferrari  
Contains information and activities to help you understand more about mental illness, ways to take care of yourself and your feelings.
Available via: Postal Address
Association of Relatives & Friends of the Mentally Ill (WA)
Unit 6, Endeavour House Hillarys,WA 6052  0894027022

Helicopter Man   Elizabeth Fensham   2005
A novel in diary format for children 9-12 in which the main character, Pete, experiences adventure whilst learning about his father's schizophrenia. Bloomsbury Publishing [distributed in Australia by Allen and Unwin and available in most book stores]
Available via: Bookstore/Retail
Review available from:COPMI site

Helpful Harry   COMIC (SA)  
An Adult child of a parent with a mental illness wrote this booklet for COMIC (Children of Mentally Ill Consumers) to help young children understand mental illness.
Available via: Email
COMIC SA
Email:  comic.admin@bigpond.com

It's About You Too! A guide for children who have a parent with a mental illness   National Schizophrenia Fellowship (Scotland)   2004
A publication for children (especially those aged between 8-10) who have a parent with a mental illness.
Available via: Web
National Schizophrenia Fellowship (Scotland)
Claremont House, 130 East Claremont Street Edinburgh  EH7 4LB  0131 557 8969
Email:  info@nsfscot.org.uk
Web:http://www.nsfscot.org.uk

Joe's Diary   SANE AUSTRALIA  
Researced and written in consultation with a team of young people, parents and mental health workers, Joe's Diary tells the story in a year in the life of Joe and his mother who has schizophrenia, and how they both learn to cope with the effects of her illness. Aimed at he 10-14 year old age group, it deals with the issues of concern to any young person who has a relative or friend with a long-term mental illness
Available via: Web
SANE AUSTRALIA
 03 9682 5933
Web:http://www.sane.org

Making Mummy Better   Denise Scott (Published by Spectrum Publications)   2001
A picture book about Sally, who's mum has had a new baby and is now suffering from post-natal depression. This book gives comfort and reassurance to 3-9 year olds in the same situation, that it is possible for their mums to get better with help, support and time.
Available via: Bookstore/Retail
Spectrum Publications
Email:  spectpub@ozemail.com.au

Mia's Dad is Strange and Mark's Mum is Depressed   National Family Association Promoting Mental Health in Tampere, Finland   2003
These two illustrated books for children and families have been produced by the National Family Association Promoting Mental Health in Tampere, Finland in 2003. They were developed for children under 12 years of age with the intention of explaining the effects of a parent's psychosis (Mia) and depression (Mark) on a child's everyday life. The books cost 6 Euro each and can be ordered by emailing Kaisa Nyberg (Project Manager of the Give Childhood a Chance project).
Available via: Email
National Family Association Promoting Health
 fax: +3 58 3366 4185
Email:  nyberg.kaisa@nic.fi

Need to Know   Adapted for National Schizophrenia Fellowship (Scotland)   2006
A guide for young people (11-14 years)who have a parent with mental illness
Available via: Web
National Schizophrenia Fellowship (Scotland)
Claremont House, 130 East Claremont Street Edinburgh  EH7 4LB  0131 557 8969
Email:  info@nsfscot.org.uk
Web:http://www.nsfscot.org.uk
Review available from:www.nsfscot.org.uk

Sometimes My Mommy Gets Angry   Campbell, Bebe Moore   2003
A little girl copes with her mother's mental illness, with the help of her grandmother and friends. More details at www.penguin.com/young readers
Available via: Bookstore/Retail

The Blue Polar Bear   Samantha Tidy and Ian Forss   2005
Developed as part of the Dual Diagnosis Support Kit produced by the NSW Department of Community Services, this book for children 5-7 years aims to assist workers carers and parents to introduce the issues of parental dual diagnosis (mental illness and substance misuse), explore concerns and encourage positive coping and help-seeking behaviours.
Available via: Web
Web:http://www.community.nsw.gov.au/html/news_publications/dual_diagnosis.htm

The Wise Mouse   Virginia Ironside   2003
A short book written for 5-11 year olds to help them understand what is happening to a family member who may be experiencing mental illness.
Available via: Web
Young Minds UK
Web:http://www.youngminds.org.uk

What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety   Dawn Huebner (Published by Magination Press)   2006
This book encourages children to gradually overcome any out-of-perspective worries. For children aged 6-12 years. The book is intended to be worked through with an adult.
Available via: Web
Web:http://www.maginationpress.com

When Tough Stuff Happens: An Activity Book for Tough Times for 7-12 year olds   Tricia Irving   2001
This is an activity book designed to be personalised by 7-12 year olds who are facing tough times in their lives. It helps children to find words and ways to express and process what's happening to them.
Available via: Web
Skylight
PO Box 7309 Wellington South, New Zealand   0800 299 100
Email:  support@skylight-trust.org.nz
Web:http://www.skylight.org.nz

Wishes and Worries   Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Canada   2005
A story to help children understand a parent who drinks too much alcohol.
Available via: Web
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Canada)
Email:  marketing@camh.net
Web:http://www.camh.net/Publications/CAMH_Publications/wishes_worries_sellsheet.pdf

Wishing Wellness: A Workbook for Children of Parents with Mental Illness   Lisa Anne Clarke   2006
'A therapeutic tool for children who have a parent with a major mental illness' This is not intended to be used as a journal for children to complete in isolation but as part of therapeutic interaction on a group or individual basis. An associated Therapist Resource Guide is also available to download from the magination press site.
Available via: Web
American Psychological Association Magination Press
Web:http://www.maginationpress.com/441A313.html
Review available from:http://www.maginationpress.com/441A313.html#reviews

You're Not Alone   SANE Australia  
A SANE guide to mental illness for children Can be ordered by website or phone
Available via: Web
SANE AUSTRALIA
 03 9682 5933
Web:http://www.sane.org

Website/Online

HEADROOM  
Site for young people 12-18 years, 6-12 years, parents and professionals regarding child and adolescent mental health.
Available via: Web
Web:http://www.headroom.net.au/

Kids Help Line  

Available via: Phone
Kids Help Line
 1800 551 800
Web:http://www.kidshelp.com.au

VicCHAMPS  
The CHAMPS project in Victoria Australia has developed this website for children in the 5 - 12 year age group who have an adult family member with mental illness.
Available via: Web
Web:http://www.easternhealth.org.au/champs/

Young Carers  
Here you will find important information and contacts, along with opportunities to express your opinions and provide feedback. There is an online young carers plan to complete and keep on hand in case of an emergency, and there are games for when you feel like chilling out for a while.
Available via: Web
Web:www.youngcarers.net.au

YoungMinds (UK)  
Includes downloadable information for young people entitled 'Mental Illness In Your Family'.
Available via: Email
Web:http://www.youngminds.org.uk/publications/all-publications/mental-illness-in-your-family/file

Package/Kits

Dual Diagnosis Support Kit  2006
The Dual Diagnosis Support Kit includes information for workers, foster carers, and parents with dual diagnosis - as well as two storybooks for children aged 5 -7 years and 8 -12 years, plus a handy wallet-sized information card for adolescents. The kit is downloadable from the DoCS website and available through the website free of charge.
Available via: Web
 (02) 9716 2356
Web:http://www.community.nsw.gov.au/html/news_publications/dual_diagnosis.htm

Care Plans

Child Care Plan  
An example child Care Plan can be found on the COMIC website
Available via: Web
Web:http://www.howstat.com/comic

W.A. Child Care Plan  
A Western Australian version of the COMIC package is availablefrom the WA Office of Mental Health website.
Available via: Web
WA Office of Mental Health
Web:http://www.mental.health.wa.gov.au/one/aboutus_resources.asp

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