When Australians first seek professional support for mental illness, many will approach their general practitioner*

Taking a ‘family focus’ approach can help parents recovery from a mental illness, support the child’s social and emotional wellbeing and enhance the family’s capacity to manage the challenges that mental illness can bring.

Advice for general practitioners

• When you are working with parents, their partners and carers
• When you are working with children and youth
• Resources for general practitioners

*Australian Bureau of Statistics. National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing: Summary of results, 2007. Canberra: ABS, 2009. (ABS Cat. No. 4326.0.) http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4326.0 (accessed Feb 2012).