Resources for Teachers

Book/s

Children of Parents with Mental Illness Vicki Cowling 1999
Children of Parents with Mental Illness is a groundbreaking study into the frequently overlooked impact on children whose parents have a mental illness.

By balancing theory with first-hand experiences from parents and adult children, it examines the nature of a wide range of psychological disorders.Through case studies, it analyses a parent's ability to still function in the role of caregiver, and the impact their illness can have on their children.

Children of Parents with Mental Illness describes a possible model of inter-agency support and provides information that was initiated in the southern metropolitan region of Melbourne.

Available via: Email
ACER Press
347 Camberwell Rd Camberwell 3124 (03) 9835 7447
Email: sales@acer.edu.au
Web:http://www.acer.edu.au

Children of Parents with Mental Illness 2: Personal and Clinical Perspectives Vicki Cowling 2004
Looks at the insights and experiences of children and adults who have lived or grown up with parents with a mental illness. The experiences highlight the need to think of all family members when a parent has a mental illness and identifies the needs of children who need to belong and have someone to talk to about their experiences.
Complimenting these personal accounts are clinical chapters written by Australian practitioners with a rich and diverse range of experiences.

Available via: Phone
Australian Council of Educational Research (ACER)
(03) 9277 5656
Web:http://www.acerpress.com.au
Review available from: COPMI site

Children of parents with mental illnesses. Nicholson, J., Cooper, J., Freed, R., & Isaacs, M. 2008
Chapter in 'Family influences on childhood behavior and development'. Gullotta, T.P. & Blau, G. (Eds.). New York: Routledge.
Available via: Bookstore/Retail

Helping To Piece The Puzzle Together: An Early Childhood Worker supplement to Piecing the Puzzle Together COPMI 2009
An associated resource to assist early childhood workers who work with children and families where a parent has a mental illness or mental health problem. It was produced with input from staff in child care centres and junior primary education.
Available via: Web
Web:http://www.copmi.net.au/

Just Being Me COPMI in conjunction with MindMatters 2009
Produced in conjunction with MindMatters, this book is a package of ideas for middle schools teachers using Helicopter Man and/or Lockie Leonard, Legend as class texts and who are interested in the following potential outcomes for students:
- increasing students? understanding of mental illness and its potential affect on families
- reducing the stigma associated with mental illness
- increasing students? help seeking behaviours.

Ideas provided are mainly for use in English classes with associated links for Health and Physical Education, Society and Environment, Maths, Arts, Science and Design and Technology.

Available via: Web
Web:http://www.copmi.net.au/

Mark's Mum is Depressed National Family Association Promoting Mental Health in Tampere, Finland 2003
This illustrated book (along with 'Mia's Dad is Strange)for children and families, has been produced by the National Family Association Promoting Mental Health in Tampere, Finland in 2003. They were both 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 5 Euro each (plus postage) and can be ordered by emailing 'The National Family Association from Promoting Mental Health in Tampere' - see English page on their website for details.
Available via: Email
The National Family Association for Promoting Health in Tampere
Hämeenkatu 25 A 33200 Tampere, Finland Web:http://omaiset-tampere.fi/

Mia's Dad is Strange National Family Association Promoting Mental Health in Tampere, Finland 2003
This illustrated book (along with 'Mark's Mum is Depressed) for children and families, has been produced by the National Family Association Promoting Mental Health in Tampere, Finland in 2003. They were both 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 5 Euro each (plus postage) and can be ordered by emailing 'The National Family Association from Promoting Mental Health in Tampere' - see English page on their website for details.
Available via: Email
The National Family Association for Promoting Health in Tampere
Hämeenkatu 25 A 33200 Tampere, Finland Web:http://omaiset-tampere.fi/

Piecing The Puzzle Together: Raising young people when mental illness is part of your life COPMI 2009
This booklet is for people living with a mental health problem or mental illness, whose children are aged between 2 and 7 years. It?s also for partners, family and friends.
It contains helpful ideas about being the best parent you can when you?re not as well as you?d like to be and ways to support your child?s development during their special early years.
Produced in consultation with consumers, carers, workers, academics and policy makers.

Available via: Web
Web:http://www.copmi.net.au/

Website/Online

A Resource Guide on Parenting for People with Disability in NSW 2007
This website includes Quick Find Service List, Pathways to Parenthood in book, CD and braille formats, as well as Resource Guides on Planning for Pregnancy, equipment and adapted aides for pregnancy, support and information for early years (8-10 years), advocacy services, etc.
Available via: Web
NSW Network of Women with Disability and the Pathways to Parenthood Project Team
40 Albion Street, NSW, Australia Harris Park 2150 1800 629 072
Email: women@mdaa.org.au
Web:http://www.femability.org.au/parenting_with_disability.htm

AUSEINET (Australian Network for Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention for Mental Health)
The key focus of the Australian Network for Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention for Mental Health (Auseinet) is to assist a range of sectors to implement mental health promotion and illness prevention approaches in their respective settings.

Available via: Web
Web:http://www.auseinet.com

BEYONDBLUE - the national depression initiative
BB's all about getting the message out there that it's okay to talk about depression, and to encourage young people and their family and friends to get help when it's needed.

Available via: Web
Web:http://www.ybblue.com.au/

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/

MindMatters
MindMatters is a national mental health initiative for secondary schools funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

MindMatters is a resource and professional development program supporting Australian secondary schools in promoting and protecting the mental health, social and emotional wellbeing of all the members of school communities.
Available via: Web
Web:http://www.mindmatters.edu.au/default.asp

Multicultural Mental Health Australia Website
A national leader in mental health and suicide prevention for Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities the MMHA's objective is to provide consumers, carers and mental health professionals with the latest information on resources, services, research, conferences and events relating to multicultural mental health.
Available via: Web
Web:http://www.mmha.org.au/

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:http://www.youngcarersnsw.asn.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

Helpline/s

SANE HELPLINE
Established in 1998, the SANE Helpline provides information about symptoms, treatments, medications, where to go for support and help for carers.
Available via: Phone
1800 18 SANE (7263)
Web:http://www.sane.org

Package/Kits

Big Red Book: A Directory and Handbook for People who work with Young People in the ACT (Version 3) 2008
The Big Red Book is the first handbook and directory for people who work with young people in the ACT.

It has been designed for use by a range of professionals who may have contact with young people including youth workers, general practitioners and teachers. In addition to providing service profiles, this handbook also provides strategy-based information for workers, key service contacts and other helpful resources.

The services in this handbook were actively involved in its development and young people's voices are reflected throughout.

Available via: Web
Web:http://www.youthcoalition.net/public/Projects/BRB.html

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.nscchealth.nsw.gov.au/carersupport/fami/ddkit/default.shtml

Family to Family 2009
Ruah Community Services and COMIC WA have launched a series of booklets called 'Family to Family - telling it like it is'. This series of booklets was produced by a group of consumers and carers reflecting on their experiences of managing family life and raising children whilst managing the affects of mental illness, in collaboration with Ruah Community Services.
There are five booklets in the series:
- Our stories
- Children and parenting
- Families and recovery
- Going to hospital
- Working things out as a family

The booklets can be found on the Ruah website in the 'Latest news' link.

To enquire about ordering the booklets email perspectives@ruah.com.au with ?booklets? in the subject line.
Available via: Web
Ruah Community Services and COMIC WA
Web:http://www.ruah.com.au

Keeping the Family In Mind Resource Pack 2003
Research report
Video "telling It Like It Is'
Evaluation of the Family Room
Young Carers Mental health Resource Pack
10 messages from Young Carers
Available via: Email
Barnado's Action with Young Carers
24 Colquitt St Liverpool (UK) L1 4DE Email: louise.wardale@barnados.org.uk

Saving Francesca: Ideas for Secondary School Teachers 2005
This set of information was developed as part of the COPMI Projects commitment to supporting teachers in developing student awareness of mental illness, reducing stigma, and increasing 'help seeking' behaviour.
Available via: Web
Web:http://www.copmi.net.au/common/download.html

Teacher's 'Supporting Our Family' Kit 2003
The aim of the Teacher's Kit is to encourage mental illness education as part of the school curriculum. The Kit consists of a letter from the Adult Children to the parent, a 'Care Plan', a sample letter to the school, mental health care workers information, a checklist, a list of resources, important telephone numbers and a feed back sheet. A PowerPoint Presentation and mapping of the school curriculum is included and available for download from the COMIC website. We hope that with support and understanding children of parents with a mental illness will be encouraged to stay at school for longer period of time.
Available via: Web
COMIC (Children Of Mentally Ill Consumers)
Email: comic.admin@bigpond.com
Web:http://www.howstat.com/comic

The Developing World of the Child: Resource pack 2007
Multiple-media pack bringing new perspectives on child development, looking at children in their varied and diverse contexts. It builds vital bridges between the need to understand children's development and the ways practitioners carry out their tasks when working with children and families.
Available via: Web
NSPCC Publications
Weston House, 42 Curtain Rd. London EC2A 3NH Web:http://www.nspcc.org.uk/inform

Young Carers CD and Booklet
A booklet for secondary teachers (and others who work with young people) about issues facing young people in families where someone has a mental illness, and a CD for young people including 2 songs written by young people and recorded by professional musicians, a young woman telling her story, and information about where to get help.

Available via: Phone
(03) 9854 5122

Factsheet/Pamphlets

Early Childhood Newletter 'Snippets' 2009
Newsletter 'Snippets' for inclusion in early childhood centre's or service's newletters or notices.
Available via: Web
Web:http://www.copmi.net.au/

Parents with Mental Illness - Fact sheets (set of 5) 2006
A set of factsheets to help support parents with a mental illness, and their children.
Available via: Web
Web:http://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/resources/HCN1468_KitesSFactSheetsFIN.pdf

Royal College of Psychiatrists: Mental Health and Growing Up - Fact Sheet 16
'Parental Mental Illness - the problems for children (for parents and teachers)' - Downloadable fact sheet (number 16) from Website.
Available via: Web
Web:http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinformation/mentalhealthandgrowingup.aspx

SANE - Guides
Complete set of SANE guides, easy-to-read booklets on mental illness and related issues written in everyday language. Includes 16 booklets on bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, consumers, families, children & young people, medication and other treatments, healthy living, staying alive, drugs, reducing stigma, mental illness in the workplace, getting back to work and quitting smoking. Designed specifically for people with mental illness and their families.
Available via: Web
SANE Australia
Web:http://www.sane.org

CD/DVD/Videos

I Love You Like Crazy - Being a Parent with a Mental Illness
Eight mothers and fathers who have mental illness discuss the challenges they face as parents. No one knows how many parents must cope with mental illness while raising children, but it is a far larger number than is generally realised. (As seen at the 1999 White House Conference on Mental Health).

This tape is an introduction to some of the problems these parents are dealing with as they strive to be effective, supportive and loving mothers and fathers.

Available via: Web The Mental Illness Education Project
Web:http://www.miepvideos.org/

It's only 1/100th me' Stories of 6 People Challenging Stigma and Discrimination Surrounding Mental Illness. 2007
This project is the start of a campaign to challenge stigma and discrimination towards people experiencing mental illness. In the first stage we have produced a DVD of people's stories.
The DVD presents personal experiences of stigma, discrimination and their impacts. The DVD also describes experiences of inclusion and the importance of being accepted and valued.
Go to www.nswcag.org.au and click on PROJECTS and 'Challenging
Stigma and Discrimination'.

Copies of the DVD can also be purchased for
$5. Contact us at NSW CAG on 9332 0200 or ycotton@nswcag.org.au.
Available via: Web NSW CAG - New South Wales Consumer Advisory Group
02 9332 0200
Email: ycotton@nswcag.org.au.
Web:http://www.mentalhealth.asn.au/members/nswcag/index.htm

Just Care for Us (DVD) 2005
Carers Victoria has released a DVD/Video featuring five young carers, three of whom care for a parent with a mental illness. The aim of the DVD 'Just Care for Us' is to raise awareness of young carer issues and support needs amongst services providers and school staff.
The DVDs/videos are selling for $39.95 (+ postage and handling fee of $10)
Available via: Postal Address Carers Victoria
PO Box 2204 Footscray 3011 Web:http://www.copmi.net.au/files/YCOrderForm.pdf

KOPING (Video and Booket)
Supporting children and young people whose parents are living with a mental health problem.
Available via: Postal Address Child & Youth Mental Health Service, Royal Children's Hospital and Health Service District
289 Wardell Street Enoggera QLD 4051 (07) 3355 8999
Email: Thy_Meddick@health.qld.gov.au

KOPING Adolescent Program Facilitators Manual and KOPING DVD 2008
The KOPING DVD and accompanying CD ROM resource has been developed to support children, young people and their families whose parent/s are living with a mental illness or dual diagnosis by providing information about other young people?s experiences, ways of coping and how to get help.

The DVD and CD ROM set will retail at $50 (inc. GST and p&h within Australia). The Koping Adolescent Facilitators manual is a step by step guide to running the Koping Adolescent Program (KAP). KAP is a 3 day psychoeducation, peer-support based program developed for young people between the ages of 12 and 18 that have a parent or carer affected by mental illness or dual diagnosis. Along with the appropriate KAP Facilitator Training, this manual and accompanying DVD give you a step by step guide to running a Koping Adolescent Program. The Koping Facilitators Manual and DVD package will retail at $90 (inc GST & P&h in Australia).

Available via: Web Koping Program
07 3266 3100
Email: koping@health.qld.gov.au

Matthew Heath 2006
A short Australian documentary film. In his own words Matthew tells of the challenges his family has faced in coming to terms with his father's mental illness.
Available via: Web 02 93254444
Web:http://www.hopeawards.com.au

Raw Youth: Young people and mental health 2004
An eight part documentary series on young people and mental health. Sessions 2 and 8 feature professionals and young people talking about young people and parents with a mental illness.
Available via: Email Programme Coordinator 3CR
PO Box 1277 Collingwood 3065 + 61 3 9419 8377
Email: programming@3cr.org.au
Web:http://www.3cr.org.au/

Telling It Like It Is 2003
Assists professionals to understand the issues young carers face as children and young people growing up in a family where a parent has mental health problems.
Available via: Email Barnados Action with Young Carers
24 Colquitt St Liverpool (UK) L1 4DE 0151 708 7322
Email: louise.wardale@barnados.org.uk

Care Plans

7 Steps to Safety kit
7 Steps to Safety - a kit for parents and carers of children of all ages. It can help give children the skills and confidence they need to feel and be safe at home. Each step can be adapted to suit the needs of individual children, families and cultures.
Available via: Web
NT Families and Children, Department of Health and Families
Web:http://www.families.nt.gov.au/asp/index.asp

Baby Care Plan 2004
Care plan for parents to complete providing instructions for the care of an infant while the parent/s is unavailable.
Available via: Web
AICAFMHA
Web:http://www.copmi.net.au/common/download.html

Care Plan 2000
'CarePlan' for a child to fill out with the help from a parent when well and mental health care professional if necessary.
The aim is to have a 'Care Plan' in place should the parent become unwell and need hospitalisation. Children are often concerned who they will stay with and the most frequent question asked is 'Who will give me my pocket money?' Can be downloaded from COMIC website and is part of the 'Supporting Our Family Kit'
Available via: Web
Email: comic.admin@bigpond.com
Web:http://www.howstat.com/comic

Family Support Plan 2006
The Family Safety Plan is aimed at minimising the disruption that occurs when a parent is hospitalised. It can be used when the parent or caregiver is well and the information can be shared with those providing support. It specifies emergency care options, custodial restrictions, medical requirements/medications etc, school/daycare contacts, children?s routines and needs etc.
Available via: Email
The Koping Program (Child & Youth Mental Health Service)
31-33 Robinson Road Nundah , 4012 (07) 3266 3100
Email: koping@health.qld.gov.au

W.A. Child Care Plan
A Western Australian version of the COMIC package is available from 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

Other Literature

Education Connect: Teacher Preparation - catering for diversity in the classroom 2006
This publication is intended primarily for Australian teacher educators in secondary or middle schooling programs. Issue Four concentrates on the importance of, and strategies for, fostering social and emotional wellbeing in adolescents with diverse needs.

Available via: Web
Web:http://www.responseability.org/client_images/47227.pdf

Parental substance misuse and children's entry into Alternative Care in South Australia, 2006 (Research Bulletin) 2008
This study has focused on the extent to which problematic alcohol and substance use are factors influencing children's entry into care. It has also collected a range of data relating to family circumstances and problems; the impact on children and the services provided in response and outcomes. Findings have implications for both the child protection and drug and alcohol fields, in relation to policy, strategy and service delivery.
Available via: Web
Department for Families and Communities, Business Affairs Research Unit
Web:http://www.dfc.sa.gov.au/pub/tabid/223/itemid/1406/Substance-misuse-and-child-protection-seminar.aspx

SCIE Research Briefing 29: Black and minority ethnic parents with mental health problems and their children 2008
Explores the issue of UK black and minority ethnic (BME) parents with mental health problems. Main findings are that BME parents with mental health problems are more likely to experience poverty, discrimination and difficulties in accessing effective and appropriate mental health services, are more commonly reluctant to access mental health services and are more poorly serviced by mental health services.

Available via: Web
Social Care Institute for Excellence
Web:http://www.scie.org.uk/publications/briefings/briefing29/

Join the COPMI Discussion List: