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,...
Designed for distribution in reception areas, on community notice boards, at conferences & events. For parents who experience mental health problems, or are diagnosed with a mental illness, their partners and supporters. It lists information and resources...
Designed for distribution in reception areas, on community notice boards, at conferences & events. General information about COPMI – who we are, what we do and the resources we have available for families and mental health professionals.
This is a resource that accompanies the 'Piecing the Puzzle Together' booklet. Produced for early childhood workers, it helps them work with children and families where a parent has a mental illness or mental health problem. It was produced with input from staff in...
This booklet is for people living with a mental health problem or mental illness, whose children are aged between two and seven 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...
Developed in partnership with families and young people, this booklet contains tips and information for parents with mental health problems, their children, other family members and support people. Topics include answering questions, discussing things as a family and...
This two-page information sheet offers tips about communicating with babies about their parent's mental illness.
This booklet was developed with and for women with a mental health condition or mental illness (and their partners) who are thinking about having a baby, are new parents or are about to have a baby. It encourages health professionals and parents to work together to...
This resource was developed as part of the COPMI national initiative's commitment to supporting teachers to develop student awareness of mental illness, reducing stigma, and increasing 'help seeking' behavior.
This teaching resource was developed in conjunction with MindMatters. It offers a package of ideas for middle school teachers using 'Helicopter Man' or 'Lochie Leonard, Legend' as class texts. Potential outcomes for students include increased understanding of mental...
Check how 'family-friendly' your inpatient or community mental health services are by comparing them with these COPMI checklists. They have been developed from information provided by parents with a mental illness, their partners, support people and children as...
Many parents who experience depression or anxiety worry about whether they should talk with their children about their illness and how much they should say. The Family Focus DVD helps parents to start this conversation with their children.
This two-page information sheet is one of a set of six sheets for fathers. It provides information about the importance of being physically well in order to manage the demands of mental illness.
This two-page information sheet is one of a set of six sheets for fathers. It provides information about the importance of emotional health.
This two-page information sheet provides information about understanding and managing your own mental illness.
This two-page information sheet is one of a set of six sheets for fathers. It provides information about being a dad when there's mental illness in the family.
This two-page information sheet provides tips on talking with teenagers about their parent's mental illness.
Check how 'family-friendly' your inpatient or community mental health services are by comparing them with the COPMI checklist. They have been developed from information provided by parents with a mental illness, their partners, support people and children as well as...
This two-page information sheet provides tips regarding talking with toddlers about their parent's mental illness.
This two-page information sheet provides tips on talking with primary school aged children about their parent's mental illness.
This storybook (which features a first page with guidelines for parents or carers to read) is for children aged 6-11 years whose parent or relative has a drinking problem. It can be use to start a conversation with children in a similar situation, so they can talk...
This storybook is for children aged 6-11 years whose parent or relative has a drinking problem. The first page feature guidelines and suggestions for schools about the way this text should be used. It is suggested that the text not be used in classrooms, but that...
This guide was developed in partnership with parents who live with a mental illness, their children and supporters. It is designed to help parents think about the relationships in their child's life and ways to strengthen these to support their child and the family...
This report has been written for early parenting services to guide on providing specialist support to vulnerable children and families from pregnancy to pre-school years.
'This report reviews research on the consequences for children of having a parent with mental health issues, and the effectiveness of strategies and interventions designed to support affected families. The review aims to address the following key questions: What is...
This two-page information sheet provides tips on talking with teenagers about their parent's mental illness.
'What knowledge and skills can educators integrate into their practice, to most effectively support children's mental health and wellbeing? This project, an initiative of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, explored this issue by drawing...
Access program evaluations of the SMILES program ('Simplifying Mental Illness + Life Enhancement Skills'). This is a peer-supported program for children who have a parent or sibling experiencing mental illness. Evaluations from Canada, Australia and America.
The pathways of care resource has been developed for professionals working with parents who experience mental illness and their families. It offers the opportunity to map out services within a community that families are connected with (or could connect with) to...
Short, engaging video clips for young people (10+ years) who have a parent experiencing mental illness. Produced by young people and professionals, they cover common questions like 'what is mental illness?', "will my parent get better?', the importance of 'looking...
The Our Time playgroups are designed specifically for parents who experience a mental illness. The Our Time Manual provides information about the development, implementation and evaluation of the Our Time Playgroup model for organisations. It also provides practical...
BluePages is produced by the National Institute for Mental Health Research at the Australian National University. It provides information for people who are experiencing depression. 'BluePages is one of a kind - it provides users with the highest quality scientific...
This beautifully illustrated children's book,finished in watercolour,is for children 5 years and above. It helps them tounderstand the behaviours associated with experiencing bipolar disorder. The book follows the story of Daddy Bear and his family as he has a bipolar...
The Family and Community Services website offers these pages on the Brighter Futures program offered across NSW. It is oriented to professionals andoffers links to a range of Brighter Futures Practice Resources (which feature specialised guidance to support work with...
This care plan template is designed for parents to complete regarding the care of their infant when they are unwell or unavailable. More information about care plans
This story is a metaphor for a child living with an adult who experiences mental illness. Big and Me is dramatically illustrated with paper sculpture. The story follows Big and Small who are machines that work together as a team. But some days Big goes a bit wobbly,...
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...
The Dual Diagnosis resources featured on this page can be accessed by professionals, but also families where there is a diagnosis of mental illness and substance use issues. Used together as a 'kit' the resources includes: a booklet for caseworkers, regarding Dual...
Thischild development training packprovides new perspectives on child development and looks at children in their varied and diverse contexts. It is designed for practitioners working with children and families, their managers and trainers, in practice supervison or...
The second edition of this report provides an update on the effect of parental problems, such as substance misuse and mental illness, on children's welfare. In many families, children's health and development are being affected by the difficulties their parents are...