Resources for Teachers

Book/s

About Mental Illness: A booklet for 13-16 year olds.    
A booklet for 13-16 year olds.
Available via: Postal Address
Association of Relatives & Friends of the Mentally Ill (ARAFMI)
275 Stirling Street Perth 6000 Email:  arafmihunter@exe.ail.com.au

Carers guide to information sharing with mental health clinicians: Communicating for better outcomes     2007
Information booklet for family carers. The guide has been developed in partnership between the School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, UWA; the Mental Health Division; the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist and Carers WA. [Australia]
Available via: Web
Mental health Division
Web:http://www.chiefpsychiatrist.health.wa.gov.au/docs/guides/Carers_Guide_Information_Sharing.pdf

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 Illness, and Child Protection: Recent Evidence   Graham Martin  
Presentation to Child Safety Services, Department of Communities (Qld). [Australia]
Available via: Web
Web:http://www.childsafety.qld.gov.au/research/documents/children-of-parents-with-mental-illness.pdf

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

Communicating with carers and families: Information sharing for better outcomes    
Information booklet and practice guide for mental health clinicians. The guide has been developed in partnership between the School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, UWA; the Mental Health Division; the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist and Carers WA, 2007. [Australia]
Available via: Web
Mental health Division
Web:http://www.chiefpsychiatrist.health.wa.gov.au/docs/guides/Communicating_with_Carers_and_Families.pdf

Families where a parent has a mental illness: A service development strategy    
Developed by the Victorian Government Department of Human Services. The overall aim of the FaPMI Strategy is to reduce the impact of parental mental illness on all family members through timely, coordinated, preventative and supportive action. This, in turn, would deliver greater opportunities and more positive outcomes for all family members. The priority is on better understanding the needs of families where a parent has a mental illness and the associated risks for all family members, including children. To this end, the FaPMI Strategy is aimed at assisting services to develop more coordinated and effective approaches to address the heightened risk burden of families. It has a particular interest in promoting the inclusion of those not currently accessing supports.
Available via: Web
Victorian Government Department of Human Services, FaPMI
Web:http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/health/mentalhealth/families/families.pdf

Family Minded: supporting children in families affected by mental illness     2008
This report is based on the experiences of a number of Barnardo?s services that work with children whose lives are affected by parental mental ill-health. It is informed by the academic literature in this field. It explores the challenges of parental mental illness for both policy and practice, addressing mental health policy and practice in all four nations of the UK.
Available via: Web
Bernados
Web:http://www.barnardos.org.uk/family_minded_report.pdf

Flying Dream (The)   Samantha Tidy & illustrated by Connah Brecon  
Written for children of parents with dual diagnosis but can be used for working with parents to help them understand their children's needs and identify what they can do differently to assist their children, building their motivation to change, seek assistance etc. and empowering to do what they feel they can do. This publication was developed by the NSW Department of Community Services (DoCS) through the National Illicit Drug Strategy. Sponsored by the Australian Government Department of Family and Community Services. [Australia] (2.15MB).
Available via: Web
NSW Department of Community Services (DoCS)
Web:http://www.community.nsw.gov.au/docswr/_assets/main/documents/dualdiagnosis_flying_dream.pdf

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/

Improving opportunities and outcomes for parents with mental health needs and their children    
This report, produced by Barnardo?s Policy and Research Unit and DMSS Research and Consultancy, analyses the work of the Action 16 outcomes partnership 2005 ? 2008, which aimed to find ways of improving opportunities and outcomes for parents with mental health needs and their children.
Available via: Web
Bernados
Web:http://www.barnardos.org.uk/action16_report_final_2__1_5_09-2.pdf

Infants of parents with mental illness: Developmental, clinical, cultural and personal perspectives.   Sved Williams, A. & Cowling, V. (Eds)   2008
This book incorporates the lived experience of family members, including grandparents, siblings, mothers and fathers, with other chapters written by a multi-disciplinary group of Australian health professionals. In addressing clinical, developmental, cultural and personal perspectives, it overviews the field of infant mental health.
Available via: Web
Australian Academic Press
 07 3257 1176
Email:  mailto:aap@australianacademicpress.com.au
Web:http://www.australianacademicpress.com.au/Publications/Books/4-921513039.html

Interfaces Project: Exploring the links between mental health services for children, adults and families    
This report examines the extent to which modern mental health systems were responding to service users as parents, and working in partnership with other agencies and groups who had a role in ensuring children's well-being and healthy emotional development. Within adult mental health services, it was found that the children of service users were not routinely assessed or offered any ?planned, purposeful therapeutic intervention?, even though there was a wealth of evidence to suggest children could be adversely affected by a parent?s mental ill health (Gillam, Crofts, Fadden, Keren Corbett, 2004 for the NIMHE (National Institute for Mental Health in England), NHS, The Meriden West Midlands Family Programme). [UK]
Available via: Web
NIMHE & National Institute for Mental Health in England
Web:http://www.meridenfamilyprogramme.com/documents/research/Interfaces_Project_Report.pdf

Joint Working Protocol: Safeguarding children whose parents/carers use drugs/alcohol or have mental health needs     2008
This Joint Working Protocol (Hampshire County Council, 2008) is an example of collaboration with a number of sectors and services. It is a protocol developed to protect the wellbeing of children of parents/carers who use drugs/alcohol or have mental health needs by promoting effective communication between drugs/alcohol, mental health, primary health care and children?s services and encouraging services to work together and also with the families in their assessment and care planning. [UK]
Available via: Web
Hampshire County Council
Web:http://www.youngcarer.com/pdfs/Hampshire%20Joint%20Working%20Protocol.pdf

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/

Keeping the Family In Mind: a briefing on young carers whose parents have mental health problems    
Barnardo?s 2008 Keeping the Family in Mind (KFIM) is a development project which has grown out of Barnardo?s Action with Young Carers Project in Liverpool. One of its objectives is to increase awareness and understanding of the effects of adult mental ill health upon the whole family, especially children. [UK]
Available via: Web
Bernados
Web:http://www.barnardos.org.uk//keeping_the_family_in_mind.pdf

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/

National Practice Standards for the Mental Health Workforce     2002
In 2002, the National Mental Health Education and Training Advisory Group (NMHETAG) developed the National Practice Standards for the Mental Health Workforce. The specific needs of children are highlighted throughout the standards ensuring that mental health workers acknowledge children of parents with mental illness and resources that will assist their wellbeing. [Australia]
Available via: Web
NMHETAG (National Mental Health Education and Training Advisory Group)
Web:http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/2ED5E3CD955D5FAACA25722F007B402C/$File/workstds.pdf

Parental Mental Health Vulnerability     2007
Practice Resource
Available via: Web
Web:http://www.community.nsw.gov.au/docswr/_assets/main/documents/brighterfutures_mentalhealth.pdf

Parents in Hospital: How mental health services can best promote family contact when a parent is in hospital     2007
A stay in hospital can represent a significant crisis, not just in terms of a parent's individual mental health but of family life overall, and may have long term repercussions beyond the period of hospitalisation itself. The findings of this Barnardo's report suggest that this can be re-framed as an opportunity for services to provide more holistic care.
Available via: Web
Bernados
Web:http://www.barnardos.org.uk/parents_in_hospital_july_2007.pdf

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/

Results of the Give Childhood a Chance project in 2002-2006   Hannu Alastalo and Kaisa Nyberg  
Report of the Give Childhood a Chance project - Tampere, Finland (Alastalo & Nyberg). [Finland]
Available via: Web
Web:http://www.omaiset-tampere.fi/pdf/Results%20of%20the%20Give%20Childhood%20a%20Chance.pdf

Supporting Families With Parental Mental Illness: A community education and development workshop     2002
A training tool for communities to organise services to support families: a ?stand-alone? self-explanatory document that contains all the information needed to hold a successful workshop to inform audiences as to the issues involved in supporting families with parental mental illness. [Canada]
Available via: Web
Supporting Families with Parental Mental Illness Provincial Working Group, Government of British Columbia
Web:http://www.bcss.org/2001/06/resources/health-professionals/professional-development/supporting-families-with-parental-mental-illness-a-community-education-and-development-manual/