Book/Booklet

Ruby’s dad – A story about living with a parent who is a heavy drinker

Author: Frances Rabone

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 with you about what it’s like for them. […]

Read more

‘Ruby’s dad’ – With guidelines for schools

Author: Frances Rabone

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 schools or teachers call for specific guidance and information: […]

Read more

Your child’s support network

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 unit.

Read more

Our Time manual – A supported playgroup for parents with mental illness

Author: Anglicare and The Northern Area Mental Health Service (NAMHS)

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 information for facilitators and parent peer leaders. It is hoped that the manual will be a useful […]

Read more

Bipolar Bears – A storybook for children who have a mum or dad with bipolar disorder

Author: Sue Hueston

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 episode. His children are dragged along on his rollercoaster ride where he starts many activities […]

Read more

Big Red Book: A Directory and Handbook for People who work with Young People in the ACT (Version 6)

Author: Youth Coalition of the ACT

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 […]

Read more

Big and me

Author: David Miller

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, and Small gets worried. Big malfunctions in […]

Read more

Handle with care: A workbook about mental illness for 8-12 year olds

Author: Mental Health Carers Arafmi (WA) Inc.

This workbook about the topic of mental illness is for 8-12 year olds. It contains information and activities to help young people understand more about mental illness, self-care and coping with their feelings. Updated, the bright workbook includes illnesses such as anxiety and borderline personality disorder. The workbook can be used in a group setting […]

Read more

The Flying Dream

Author: Samantha Tidy

This story book has been written for children of parents with dual diagnosis (mental illness and substance abuse). It can also be used to work with parents tohelp them understand their children’s needs and to identify what they can do differently to help them. This publication was developed by the NSW Department of Community Services […]

Read more

Helping To Piece The Puzzle Together: Early childhood worker’s booklet

Author: Emerging Minds

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 childcare centres and junior primary education. Additional support resources for educators […]

Read more

Parental Mental Health Vulnerability

Author: Brighter Futures

This is a practice resource developed by ‘Brighter Futures’ (a NSW Government early intervention initiative) about parental mental health issues, and vulnerability.

Read more

Need to Know: A guide for young people who have a parent with mental illness

Author: Support in Mind (Scotland)

This booklet for children (aged 11-14) has been produced by Support In Mind (Scotland). It isa supportive book designed to be read by family members or used as a communication tool by professionals who work with families. It offers information aboutwhat mental illness is, what common mental health terms mean and how mental illness can […]

Read more

Principles and Actions for Services and People Working with Children of Parents with a Mental Illness

Author: Emerging Minds

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.

Read more

Piecing The Puzzle Together: Raising young people when mental illness is part of your life

Author: The COPMI national initiative

This booklet is for parents 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 […]

Read more

Parenting Well When You’re Depressed

Author: Joanne Nicholson

Parents with depression may feel depleted by the burden of coping with their illness and unprepared for the challenge of providing a healthy environment for their children. This guide, based on more than ten years of study of depressed parents and their families, offers strategies, action plans, and resources to help depressed parents provide for […]

Read more

Even Mummy Cries

Author: Naomi Hunter

‘Even Mummy Cries’ is a beautifully illustrated storybook which explores issues surrounding mental health and wellbeing to young children in an age-appropriate way. ‘It is reassuring in nature, explaining to children that they are not to blame for any sadness experienced by their parents. In addition, it encourages parents to openly express their sadness with […]

Read more

How Can I Help My Children? A Guide To Parents Who Have Mental Problems

Author: Tytti Solantaus

This booklet was written in Finland and translated into English for parents who experience mental illness, with advice around parenting when you’re unwell. “Parents who have psychological difficulties often worry about their children. Parenting may not work out like before. Tiredness may rob parents of strength and patience. They may also wonder how their children […]

Read more

What’s Up With Our Parents? A Handbook For Older Children and Adolescents Whose Mother or Father has Mental Health Problems

Author: Tytti Solantaus

This booklet was written in Finland and translated into English for young people who have a parent who experiences mental illness. It attempts to explain what mental health problems are, and answer common questions that young people have.

Read more

How Can I Care For My Children? A Handbook for Parents Struggling with Drug or Alcohol Use

Author: Tytti Solantaus

This booklet was written in Finland and translated into English for parents struggling with drug or alcohol use. It allows parents to reflect on the impact of drug and alcohol use on their children, and offers ideas to help their children and family, including a practical Action Plan. “The minds and hearts of these parents […]

Read more

When your parent has a mental illness

Author: The COPMI national initiative

This booklet is for teenagers of parents who experience mental illness (from 12–15 years and above). It is a resource that parents can offer their children or practitioners can provide to them when supporting parents and families. The booklet answers common questions that teenagers have and offers support and advice. Produced alongside professionals, parents and […]

Read more

‘How can I help my child?’

Author: The COPMI national initiative

This guide was originally produced for use by professionals when supporting parents with mental illness and their families. It is intended to help provide parents with time to think about being a parent living with mental illness, and to help them find practical ways to strengthen the social and emotional wellbeing of their children and […]

Read more

Happy Pants

Author: Heather Gallagher

When Mummy wears her happy pants we build sandcastles, go out for baby cinos and have lots and lots of cuddles. But when she comes home with baby Darcy, her happy pants stay in her wardrobe… “Postnatal Depression effects 1 in 7 women. Happy Pants is a heartfelt way to help older children know that […]

Read more

Journey to Wellville

Author: Written and illustrated by parents with a lived experience of mental illness

Journey to Wellville was created by a group of parents who have a lived experience of mental illness. These parents were looking for an appropriate way to open up discussion with their primary-school aged children about living with mental illness. They workshopped some of the ways in which their illness presented, how it looked, sounded, […]

Read more

A monster ate my Mum

Author: Jen Faulkner

This is a children’s book that is written in rhyme, looking at post natal depression (PND) from a child’s perspective. It is suitable for children from 2 years old and is a great way to help young kids to understand that ‘it’s not their fault’ and that ‘mummy will get better’. The book is beautifully […]

Read more

Download Free COPMI Resources

For use by families where a parent has a mental illness, their supporters, and services who work with them.