Policies and Frameworks
Website/Online
Building on the Strengths of Australian Males: National Male Health Policy 2010
The Policy provides a framework for improving the health of all males and achieving equal health outcomes for population groups of males at risk of poor health. It provides practical suggestions for action designed to guide directions into the new decade especially in areas where we know we can make a difference in improving the health of Australian males, and those with the poorest health. The National Male Health Policy - Building on the Strengths of Australian Males, has nine supporting documents providing in-depth analysis of some of the issues raised in the Policy. It also has some practical suggestions for males about what they can do to improve their own health, and some guiding principles that can be used when developing programs and policies affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males.Supporting documents:
- Social Determinants and Key Actions Supporting Male Health
- Healthy Minds
- Healthy Routines
- Healthy Reproductive Behaviours
- Healthy Limits
- Healthy Workers
- Access to Health Services
- Action Males Can Take Now
- National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Males Health Framework Revised Guiding Principles
Available via: Web
Department of Health & Ageing
Web:http://www.health.gov.au/malehealthpolicy
Change for Children campaign
The Change for Children campaign is facilitated by the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) and its members.
The campaign is directed at demonstrating to governments and other stakeholders that there is widespread support within the community for positive change for children.
This website aims to bring together the diverse community of people who are working towards and support improved health and wellbeing for children and young people.
The campaign's three main objectives are:
1. Improve community understanding about factors that threaten or enhance child and young people?s wellbeing
2. Empower parents and the community to better engage with children and young people, to more adequately meet their social and emotional developmental needs
3. Create the social environment necessary to build widespread understanding and support for the needs of young Australians.
Available via: Web
ARACY
Web:http://www.changeforchildren.net.au/
Children of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI) Framework for Mental Health Services 2010
SummaryThe NSW Children of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI) Framework for Mental Health Services aims to:1) Foster the continuing development of Area Mental Health Services for children of parents with a mental illness and their families; and2) Assist Area Mental Health Services in the ongoing development of collaborative approaches with key partners and agencies working with children and their families.This document applies to: Area Health Services/Chief Executive Governed Statutory Health Corporation, Board Governed Statutory Health Corporations, Affiliated Health Organisations - Non Declared, Affiliated Health Organisations - Declared, Community Health Centres, Public Health Units, Public Hospitals
Available via: Web
NSW Health
Web:http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/pd/2010/PD2010_037.html
Consumer and Carer Participation Framework - Tas (2006-07) 2006
This Framework sets the direction for participation in Tasmanian Mental Health Services from 2006-07 onwards. It seeks to unite the efforts of the many people in our community who care about mental health and wish to promote both recovery from mental illness and improved wellbeing. An implementation plan will be developed to detail the actions that will be taken to turn the Framework into a practical and effective working system.The term 'Framework' encompasses the open-minded and flexible approach that has guided both the process of development and the structure and content of the finalised document. The Consumer and Carer Participation Framework reflects the cooperative goodwill that enabled the people involved in its development to build a set of action-oriented concepts relevant to our local context. This structure allows us to take logical steps towards progress, while remaining able to adapt to changes in our local circumstances and be responsive to what we learn along the way. Underpinning this Framework is the belief that participation in mental health services by consumers brings benefits to them and to the services involved. The evidence for this is mounting, as it is for the cost-effectiveness of participation. In addition, research is beginning to show that the involvement of family members and other carers can reduce the frequency and severity of episodes of mental illness for individual consumers, as well as improve the quality of life for everyone in the family. So it makes even more sense to work towards creating a culture of inclusion and collaboration among consumers, carers and service providers to achieve their common aims.
Available via: Web
Department of Health and Human Services,Tas
Web:http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/38508/Consumer__and__Carer_Framework.pdf
Every child every chance: A strategic framework for family services 2007
This new strategic framework for the Department of Human Services-funded Family
Services program is an opportunity for a contemporary approach to responding to
vulnerable and at-risk children and their families. This framework is consistent with
the significant reform agenda that led to new policy and legislation in 2005. This
policy is outlined in the white paper: Protecting children-the next steps (July 2005).
Available via: Web
Office for Children, Victorian Department of Human Services,Vic
Web:http://www.cyf.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/17127/protecting_children_white_paper.pdf
Families where a parent has a mental illness: Service development strategy 2007
This strategy has been developed to assist a range of services to provide more timely and coordinated family and personal supports for parents to be and parents experiencing a mental illness, those caring for them and their children. It is part of the Victorian Government's 'A Fairer Victoria' commitment to support vulnerable families and improve the safety, health, development, learning and wellbeing of infants, children, young people and families.
Parents with a mental illness can feel isolated and unsupported. The 'Families where a Parent has a Mental Illness (FaPMI) Strategy encourages family focused practice through workforce training and networking to ensure timely identification and appropriate referrals to supportive services and so reduce the possible impact of parental mental illness on the family.
Available via: Web
The Families where a Parent has a Mental Illness (FaPMI)
Web:http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/health/mentalhealth/families/index.htm
Fourth National Mental Health Plan: An agenda for collaborative government action in mental health 2009-2014 2009
This document, launched by the Australian Health Ministers' Conference (AHMC) in November 2009, is the product of twelve months of development work including a comprehensive stakeholder consultation process.
Endorsement of the plan represents commitment by all governments to implementation of the following vision for mental health set out in the National Mental Health Policy 2008:
- a mental health system that enables recovery, that prevents and detects mental illness early and ensures that all Australians with a mental illness can access effective and appropriate treatment and community support to enable them to participate fully in the community.
The plan identifies key actions that will make meaningful progress towards fulfilling the vision of the policy. While led by health ministers the plan takes a whole of government approach through involving sectors other than just health. The plan will provide a basis for governments to advance mental health activities within the various portfolio areas in a more integrated way, recognising that many sections can contribute to better outcomes for people living with mental illness.
The plan has five priority areas for government action in mental health:
1. Social inclusion and recovery
2. Prevention and early intervention
3. Service access, coordination and continuity of care
4. Quality improvement and innovation and
5. Accountability - measuring and reporting progress.
The plan is ambitious in its approach and for the first time includes a robust accountability framework. Each year, governments will report progress on implementation of the plan to the Council of Australian Governments. The plan includes indicators for monitoring change in the way the mental health system is working for people living with mental illness as well as their families and carers. Health ministers have agreed to develop targets and data sources for each of the indicators in the first twelve months of the plan.
Available via: Web
Department of Health and Ageing
Web:http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/mental-pubs-f-plan09
Harvard University: Center on the Developing Child
Drawing on the resources available across Harvard University's schools and affiliated hospitals, the Center on the Developing Child generates, translates, and applies knowledge in the service of improving life outcomes for children in the United States and throughout the world.
This website covers a broad range of topics including: Science of Early Childhood, Understanding Intervention, Science and policy, New Research, Learning Opportunities, Child and Family Mental Health.
Visit the 'Library' for a comprehensive array of briefing papers, reports and articles.
Available via: Web
Web:http://developingchild.harvard.edu/
Investing in the Early Years: A National Childhood Development Strategy 2009 2009
An initiative of the Council of
Australian Governments.
Developed under the auspices of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), this strategy is a collaborative effort between the Commonwealth and the state and territory
governments to ensure that by 2020 all children have the best start in life to
create a better future for themselves and for the nation. This is our vision.
The strategy will guide Australia?s comprehensive response to evidence about the
importance of early childhood development and the benefits?and cost-effectiveness?
of ensuring all children experience a positive early childhood, from before birth through the first eight years of life. It will also support Australia to better meet the diverse needs of today?s families and focus on improving child outcomes and foster the health and wellbeing and productivity of our next generation.
Available via: Web
Commonwealth of Australia - Council of Australian Governments
Web:http://www.coag.gov.au/coag_meeting_outcomes/2009-07-02/docs/national_ECD_strategy.pdf
Kids Central
The kit was developed in response to a research project conducted by the Institute on experiences of homelessness for accompanying children.
Staff met with children and talked to them about what life was like for them when they were homeless, what they felt they and their families wanted and needed and how they thought kids might get better support.
Available via: Web
Web:http://www.acu.edu.au/about_acu/research/our_research/research_centres_-and-_institutes/institute_of_child_protection_studies/kids_central/
Making progress: the health, development and wellbeing of Australia's children and young people 2008
This report delivers the latest and most reliable information on how, as a nation, we are faring according to key statistical indicators of child and youth health, development and wellbeing. The report covers children and young people aged 0-19 years, and includes indicators for the entire 0-19 year age range as well as indicators for three different stages of development: 1) infancy and early childhood; 2) school age childhood; and 3) adolescence. Information is presented on important issues such as mental health, disability, risk factors for chronic disease, mortality, education, homelessness, crime, jobless families and family economic situation. Particular attention is given to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and youth, and to how Australia compares internationally. This is an essential resource for policy makers, researchers, practitioners and anyone interested in the progress of Australia's children and youth.
Available via: Web
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Web:http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10653
Melbourne Charter for Promoting Mental Health and Preventing Mental and Behavioural Disorders 2008
The Melbourne Charter for Promoting Mental Health and Preventing Mental and Behavioural Disorders is the outcome of a worldwide discussion initiated by the organisers and participants of the Global Consortium for the Advancement of Promotion and Prevention in Mental Health (GCAPP) conference entitled From Margins to Mainstream: 5th World Conference on the Promotion of Mental Health and the Prevention of Mental and Behavioural Disorders, in Melbourne, Australia, September 2008.
The Charter reflects the input and support of organisations from all over the world. It articulates some common principles and recommendations that should be part of our future action in mental health promotion and mental illness prevention.
The Charter provides a framework which recognises the influence of social and economic determinants on mental health and mental illness and identifies the contribution that diverse sectors (including but not exclusive to health) make to influencing those conditions that create or ameliorate positive mental health.
Available via: Web
Web:http://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/en/Publications/Mental-health-promotion/Melbourne-Charter.aspx
Mental Health Recovery Philosophy Into Practice - A workforce development guide 2009
This guide has been developed in response to a sector-wide need for a coordinated approach to workforce development within a recovery framework. This is becoming increasingly necessary as demand for the sector and its services grow, and community mental health staff and managers look for better ways to engage with, support, and empower consumers. The guide is structured according to the nine key workforce pathways that organisations must consider in working towards becoming, or sustaining, a socially inclusive, recovery-oriented organisation. These include: organisational culture and values, effective partnerships, knowledge management, recruitment and retention, consumer and carer workers, cultural competence, professional development, supervision and mentoring, evaluation and performance management. This guide articulates the components of effective recovery-based practice; it brings the language of 'recovery' to practical application. It promotes a recovery-oriented framework in which service users, carers, volunteers and employees are all supported to negotiate their individual paths; to contribute and achieve goals in an environment of respect and compassion.
Available via: Web
Mental Health Coordinating Council
Web:http://www.mhcc.org.au/resources/staff-development-guide.aspx
Mental Health Services Consumer and Carer Participation Review September 2009 2009
This report provides recommendations in relation to how mental health services will build and implement a consumer and carer participation model in conjunction with consumers and carers. This, we envisage, will ensure a responsive, inclusive and integrated participation model throughout Tasmania.
Available via: Web
Statewide & Mental Health Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Tasmania
Web:http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/mentalhealth/publications/strategic_documents/Consumer_and_Carer_Review3.pdf
Mental Health Services Strategic Plan 2006-2011: Partners...towards recovery 2006
The reform of mental health services outlined in this strategic plan rely fundamentally on partnerships and the participation of the broader community. Its success depends on MHS and its staff listening to consumers, their families and carers, and our other partners, and working closely with them to build a service framework that we are all confident in, and which delivers the necessary services to all Tasmanians. A central component of our plan for the future is a model of care for mental health that is centred on consumers, promotes their recovery, and is provided equitably and efficiently. We have built our model of care on best practice based on evidence, using the full range of experience and expertise within our own organisation, and across Australia and the world" (from p.3).
Available via: Web
Department of Health and Human Services,Tas
Web:http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/38507/Mental_Health_Strategic_Plan_1.pdf
National Action Plan for Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention for Mental Health 2000 2000
This publication outlines a strategic framework and plan for action to address the promotion, prevention and early intervention priorities and outcomes outlined in the Second National Mental Health Plan
Available via: Web
Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing
Web:http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/mental-pubs-p-prommon
National Action Plan on Mental Health 2006 - 2011 2006
The effects of mental illness are felt across our nation. Recent reports from Parliamentary inquiries and independent reviews have presented strong evidence for change in the way governments respond to mental illness. In February 2006, Australian leaders recognised that mental health is a major problem for the Australian community and committed to reform the mental health system in Australia.
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has agreed to a National Action Plan on Mental Health. The Plan provides a strategic framework that emphasises coordination and collaboration between government, private and non-government providers in order to deliver a more seamless and connected care system, so that people with mental illness are able to participate in the community.
Available via: Web
Commonwealth of Australia - Council of Australian Governments (COAG)
Web:http://www.coag.gov.au/reports/docs/AHMC_COAG_mental_health.pdf
National Early Childhood Development Strategy - Investing in the Early Years
On 2 July 2009, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) endorsed the National Early Childhood Development Strategy- Investing in the Early Years.
In jointly developing the Strategy, the Australian, state and territory governments have signalled their intention to take a leadership role in early childhood development now and into the future.
The Strategy will help all levels of government to build a more effective and better coordinated national early childhood development system to support the diverse needs of Australian children and their families. It covers children from before birth to eight years and aims to improve the health, safety, early learning and wellbeing of all children and better support disadvantaged children to reduce inequalities.
The Strategy provides the road map for action and for engaging effective partnerships across and between governments, with the non-government sector, and with families around the needs of young children.
The Strategy proposes six priority areas for reform to be further developed for COAG in 2010, recognising the different starting points of states and territories and as resources allow:
* Strengthen universal maternal, child and family health services
* Support for vulnerable children
* Engaging parents and the community in understanding the importance of ECD
* Improve early childhood infrastructure
* Strengthen the workforce across ECD and family support services, and
* Build better information and a solid evidence base.
The Strategy represents the start of an ongoing process of engagement with families, the early childhood sector and other stakeholders about achieving a shared vision for Australia?s children. This process will continue in the short term through more detailed consultations on the development of specific reforms in priority areas by 2010, and over the longer term to 2020 to develop new actions and reshape reform directions as conditions change and new priorities emerge.
Available via: Web
Web:http://www.deewr.gov.au/EarlyChildhood/Policy_Agenda/Pages/EarlyChildhoodDevelopmentStrategy.aspx
National Health and Hospital Network Agreement 2010 2010
The objective of this Agreement is to improve health outcomes for all Australians and the sustainability of the Australian health system. This Agreement sets out the architecture and foundations of the National Health and Hospitals Network, which will deliver major structural reforms to establish the foundations of Australia's future health system.
Available via: Web
Commonwealth of Australia - Council of Australian Governments (COAG)
Web:http://www.coag.gov.au/coag_meeting_outcomes/2011-02-13/docs/communique_attachmentA-heads_of_agreement-national_health_reform_signatures.pdf
National Mental Health Plan 2003 -2008 2003
This plan identifies four priority themes: mental health promotion and prevention; increasing responsiveness to consumers and carers across all mental health and related services; strengthening quality; and fostering research and innovation across the sector for sustainable programs and services. [Australia]
Available via: Web
Australian Health Ministers, Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing
Web:http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/mental-pubs-n-plan03
National Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap on Indigenous Health Outcomes 2010 2008
This agreement sets out specific action to be taken by the Australian Government and complementary action by State/Territory governments to address the gap in health outcomes experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Available via: Web
Web:http://www.coag.gov.au/intergov_agreements/federal_financial_relations/docs/national_partnership/NP_closing_the_Gap_indigenous_health_outcomes.pdf
National Survey of Young Australians 2010 2010
In 2010 Mission Australia conducted its ninth annual survey of young Australians. The primary purpose of the survey, as in previous years, was to identify both the values and issues of concern to young people. This year the latter included both the personal concerns of young people and the issues they identified for Australia as a whole. There was also a new question that asked young people how they felt about the future.
50,240 young people aged 11 to 24 participated in the survey in 2010, the largest number of respondents in the survey?s history. 7,577 completed the survey online, with the remainder being completed in hard copy.
Available via: Web
Web:http://www.missionaustralia.com.au/downloads/national-survey-of-young-australians/2010
NSW Children of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI) Framework for Mental Health Services 2010-2015 2010
The NSW Children of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI) Framework for Mental Health Services (NSW Department of Health) aims to: 1) Foster the continuing development of Area Mental Health Services for children of parents with a mental illness and their families; and 2) Assist Area Mental Health Services in the ongoing development of collaborative approaches with key partners and agencies working with children and their families.
Available via: Web
Web:http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/pd/2010/PD2010_037.html
Principles and Actions for Services and People Working with Children of Parents with a Mental Illness. 2004
This key document provides guidance for both organisations and individuals across a wide range of jurisdictions. It is the culmination of an extensive review of the literature and of consultations with parents who have a mental illness, their carers and children, service providers and experts.
Available via: Web
COPMI/AICAFMHA
Web:http://www.copmi.net.au/common/download.html
Protecting Children is Everyone's Business: National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children 2009-2020 2009
An initiative of the Council of Australian Governments.
All Australian governments have endorsed the first National Framework for Protecting Australia?s Children 2009-2020 andarecommitted to implementing the initial actions it contains. It is an ambitious, national approach to help protect all Australian children.
The National Framework represents an unprecedented level of collaboration between Australian, State and Territory governments and non-government organisations to protect children. Placing children?s interests firmly at the centre of everything we do.
Available via: Web
Commonwealth of Australia - Council of Australian Governments.
Web:http://www.coag.gov.au/coag_meeting_outcomes/2009-04-30/docs/child_protection_framework.pdf
SA Mental Health and Well-Being Policy 2010 - 2015 2010
The Policy was developed through consultations with consumers, carers, clinicians and staff and provides a vision for the future of mental health care in South Australia, outlining the key objectives, principles and broad strategies for the ongoing reform of the mental health care system into the next decade.
The Policy will build on the strategic reforms set out in Stepping Up: A Social Inclusion Plan for Mental Health Reform 2007-2012 (2007) and the Review of Community Mental Health Services in South Australia (2008).
Available via: Web
SA Health
Web:http://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/Public+Content/SA+Health+Internet/About+us/Publications+and+resources/Policies+and+Directives/All+Policies+and+Directives
SCIE Guide 30: Think child, think parent, think family - a guide to parental mental health and family 2011
SCIE has published a revised version of their Parental mental health and child welfare guide (first published in July 2009). The guide, which is about working with parents who have mental health problems and their children, has been updated to include a new resource Putting it into practice. The resource reviews the findings from the ten implementation sites across England and Northern Ireland over the past two years. It includes practical examples for making implementation work, highlighting a selection of ?quick wins? (low or no cost actions) which can kick start changes. These quick wins include improving communication through lunchtime learning sessions.
Available via: Web
Web:http://www.scie.org.uk/publications/guides/guide30/index.asp?dm_i=4O5,MI4I,2KMUDY,1TMTQ,1
Snapshot of Early Childhood Development AEDI National Report 2009 2009
Written by the Centre for Community Child Health (at The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne and a key research centre of the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute) and the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Perth.
Available via: Web
Web:http://www.rch.org.au/aedi/resources.cfm?doc_id=13496
Strategic Framework for Action: 2005 - 2010. Opening our eyes to depression across Australia
Beyondblue's summary of the priorities and opportunities for the five years 2005-2010 includes:
- developing strategic pathways and targeted approaches to specific areas of depression and anxiety prevention in the workplace, among the elderly, in families and young people, Indigenous people, in post natal mothers and in regional and rural Australia, and partnering with agencies and organisations dealing with chronic disease, heart disease, diabetes, cancer and asthma.
- Identify skills needed to cope with adversity, build resilience and provide families, schools, workplaces and community groups with the support they need to respond to depression and related disorders, i.e. what works, when and why.
- Innovative primary care programs and multidisciplinary partnerships for better management of depression, anxiety, social and emotional wellbeing among Indigenous people to be expanded.
Available via: Web
Beyondblue
Web:http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=2.574
Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework - For Children from Birth to Eight Years 2009
A draft of the VEYLDF has been developed which builds out of the national Early Years Learning Framework (0-5) and is aligned with the Victorian Essential Learning Standards in the first years of school and includes transition to school. This draft is available for consultation, trail and validation from August to October 2009.
The Victorian Framework was released in November 2009 for implementation in early years services and schools in 2010.
Available via: Web
Web:http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/earlyyears/index.html
Package/Kits
Family Sensitive Practice Toolkit 2010
This toolkit aims to minimise cases of child abuse or neglect by increasing collaboration between child and adult service agencies. It is a new initiative developed by NCETA to improve the safety and welfare of children with parents who misuse alcohol or drugs. The toolkit builds a bridge between the alcohol and other drugs (AOD) treatment and child protection sectors to improve cooperation and collaboration.
For Kids Sake comprises a comprehensive list of ideas and practical suggestions that organisations can adopt to be more child and family sensitive.
The toolkit and all of its individual components can be downloaded from the NCETA website or hard copies can be obtained free of charge. An alternative to the hard copy is a CD ROM which contains the toolkit plus a copy of Australia's National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children, assessment tools, UK and Australian resources and an article by Emeritus Professor Dorothy Scott (the inaugral Director, Australian Centre for Child Protection).
Available via: Web
NCETA
08) 8201 7535
Email: nceta@flinders.edu.au
Web:http://www.nceta.flinders.edu.au/
Factsheet/Pamphlets
At a glance 32- Think child, think parent, think family: a briefing for senior managers 2010
This At a glance briefing looks at how senior managers can improve the health, wellbeing and life chances of parents with mental health problems and their families. Better joined-up working between services for adults with mental health problems and children?s services is essential to achieving this.
This briefing, supported by the Mental Health Network at the NHS Confederation, summarises SCIE?s Think child, think parent, think family guide. It includes early findings from 10 implementation sites working to put the guide in to practice. The guide promotes a whole-family approach to parental mental health and child welfare.
Also available as a pdf http://www.scie.org.uk/publications/ataglance/ataglance32.pdf
Available via: Web
Web:http://www.scie.org.uk/publications/ataglance/index.asp
Working with parents with mental illness. Fact sheet 2 - clinical interview prompt sheet. 2010
Queensland Health is committed to promoting the protection, safety, health and wellbeing of children and young people who have a parent with a mental illness. Mental health clinicians are required to make decisions about how a consumer's mental illness affects their parenting role in order to provide improved services and attend to the legal and ethical responsibilities of their role as a health professional. The prompt questions outlined have been developed as a guide for use by mental health workers if they are unsure of the types of questions to ask a parent with a mental illness.
It should be noted that these questions have been developed as a guide only and are not to be used as a structured interview.
This fact sheet should be read in conjunction with the Queensland Health guidelines 'Working with parents with mental illness - guidelines for mental health clinicians'. http://www.health.qld.gov.au/qhpolicy/docs/gdl/qh-gld-310-1.pdf
Available via: Web
Web:http://www.health.qld.gov.au/qhpolicy/docs/pol/qh-fs-301-1-2.pdf
Working with parents with mental illness. Fact sheet 1 - overview of guidelines. 2010
The aim of these guidelines is to:
-provide a framework for the ongoing consideration of risk and protective factors in relation to any child protection concerns.
- assist in identification of support needs for the parent/carer in relation to their parenting role.
- assist in identification of the support needs of the children regarding their parent's /carer's mental illness.
Available via: Web
Web:http://www.health.qld.gov.au/qhpolicy/docs/pol/qh-fs-310-1-3.pdf
Working with parents with mental illness. Fact sheet 3 -risk protective factors. 2010
Phase and pattern of mental illness and co-morbidities - the type, length, duration, persistence, frequency & acuity of symptoms of mental illness should all be considered when assessing the impact of mental illness on parenting.
The parent, child, extended family and community experience of, and knowledge about, mental illness are also important to understand and evaluate. Other mental or physical health problems or disabilities experienced by parent or child should be carefully considered. Children of parents with co-existing mental health and substance use problems(dual diagnosis) need to be identified as they are a particularly vulnerable group in need of additional support.
Available via: Web
Web:http://www.health.qld.gov.au/qhpolicy/docs/pol/qh-fs-310-1-1.pdf
CD/DVD/Videos
When a parent has a mental illness
Did you know that there are lots of children who have a parent who might take medicine for feeling sad, getting very angry for no reason, not wanting to join in with things or saying and doing strange things?
That may be because they have a mental illness.
This video gives an idea of what might be going on for some and is aimed at young carers themselves.
Young carers talk about their lives caring for a parent with mental illness. Narrated by Chineye, a young carer herself, the film also explains in a very simple and visual way how the brain works and what happens when things go wrong.
Availabile via: Web
Web:http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinfoforall/youngpeople/caringforaparent.aspx
Other Literature
Early Childhood and Parenting Services Scoping Study
In 2007, the Hunter Institute of Mental Health was funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) to undertake the Early Childhood and Parenting Services Scoping Study (ECPSSS). The purpose of the study was to provide an overview of the mental health services available for children and adolescents across Australia; and the service system available to support families from a mental health, illness prevention and early intervention perspective.
Completed over a four month period, the scoping process included a search and examination of relevant policies and strategic initiatives; a literature review on the types of parenting support with evidence of effectiveness; and interviews with key informants from each state and territory. Over 50 key informant interviews were conducted with representatives of government departments responsible for child health, mental health, child welfare, community services, disability and education. The interviews focused on service system characterisation and provided an opportunity for key informants to indicate areas of unmet need and opportunities that could be built upon.
The final report provides an overview of:
- Mental health services available for children and youth with emerging or diagnosable mental health problems; and
- Services that have positive impact on the mental health and wellbeing of children and adolescents, and designed to support
:New parents
:Parents of children 3-6 years of age
:Parents of dependent youth (3-18 years of
age)with emerging mental health
difficulties.
Available via: In-house Publication
Web:http://www.himh.org.au/site/index.cfm?display=122672
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