AICAFMHA:
promoting mental health for young Australians
Australian Infant, Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Association Ltd
ABN 87 093 479 022

Children of Parents Affected By a Mental Illness Scoping Project March 2001

Introductory Information

Introductory Information
Executive Summary  (includes brief recommendations)
Report in Full
Issues & Recommendations
Appendices 1-3
Appendices 4-5

Published by the Australian Infant, Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Association, February 2001
© Australian Infant, Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Association, 2001

ISBN

This work is copyright. Apart form any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process wihtout written permission from the Australian Infant, Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Association. Requests and enquiries concering reproduction rights should be directed to The Secretary, Australian Infant, Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Association, PO Box 387, STEPNEY SA 5069.

Australian Infant, Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Association
PO Box 387
STEPNEY SA 5069
Ph: 08 8132 0786
Fax: 08 8132 0787
Email: secretary@aicafmha.net.au
Website: http://www.aicafmha.net.au/

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CONTENTS *

LIST OF TABLES *

Abbreviations list *

Foreword *

Acknowledgements *

1. Executive Summary *

2. Project Brief *

3. OVERVIEW OF KEY AUSTRALIAN REPORTS *
Incidence *
Impact on children and families *
Opportunities for mental health prevention and promotion *
Meeting the need *

4. METHODOLOGY *
Scope of study *
Project team *
Methodology *

5. RESULTS *
1. State synopses *
2. Questionnaires *
3. Consultations *

6. DISCUSSION *

7. ISSUES *

8. RECOMMENDATIONS *
Background *
Recommendations *

9. Appendices *
Appendix 1: the australian infant, child, adolescent and family mental health association *
Appendix 2: Questionnaire *
Appendix 3: Supplementary results *
Appendix 4: program summaries *
Appendix 5: annotated bibliography and resources *

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: classification of responses *
Table 2: numbers of programs in each state specifically targeted at children or parents with a mental illness/mental health problem *
Table 3: future plans to provide or modify programs for children with parents affected by mental illness *
Table 4: national priority mental health targets addressed by the programs *
Table 5: client strategies used by programs *
Table 6: service delivery initiatives used by programs *
Table 7: service strategies used by mental health programs not providing a specific program *
Table 8: mental health outcomes addressed by programs *
Table 9: types of agencies with which programs collaborated *
Table 10: degree of interagency collaboration *
Table 11: reach of program *
Table 12: level of research evidence underpinning programs *
Table 13: numbers of levels of research evidence indicated *
Table 14: program evaluation strategies used *

Table 1: future plans by state *
Table 2: client strategies used by programs by state: new south wales *
Table 3: client strategies used by programs by state: victoria *
Table 4: program target age group(s) *
Table 5: program target age group(s) by state *

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Abbreviations list

THEMHS Annual Mental Health Services Conference of Australia and New Zealand

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Foreword

The Children of Parents Affected by a Mental Illness Scoping Project represents an important first step in addressing the mental health needs of this vulnerable group within our community. This need was identified in the Mental Health Promotion and Prevention National Action Plan released by the National Mental Health Promotion and Prevention Working Party in January 1999. This working party commissioned the Australian Infant, Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Association (AICAFMHA) to carry out an initial scoping study of the current responses across Australia to the needs of these children and their parents, and we are proud to present the results of this investigation.

This scoping study draws together theoretical information, identifies the current situation for these children and their parents across Australia, and describes and makes recommendations regarding the issues to be addressed. It also provides a comprehensive listing of current programs to assist networking and development of programs across Australia, and practical resources currently available. It will be a valuable practical shelf reference and resource for policy and planning staff, as well as for hands-on practitioners in the fields of child and adult mental health, education, welfare, health and justice.

I would like to thank all those who collaborated in the development and publication of this study, including the federal Department of Health and Aged Care, the project reference group and other agencies and individuals who kindly provided their insights and expertise. I would particularly like to thank Ms Sue McAllister, Senior Project Officer for AICAFMHA, who I believe did an excellent job synthesising the various documents and inputs from a wide range of sources into this very readable report.

I hope that this report will provide a foundation for development of an intersectoral network of support across Australia for these children and their parents to enable them to positively meet the day-to-day challenges of living with a mental illness.

Philip Robinson
Chair
Board of Directors
AICAFMHA
January 2001

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Acknowledgements

The Australian Infant, Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Association (AICAFMHA) wishes to thank all those who took the time to respond to the questionnaire and the project officer’s inquiries during this project. The association also wishes to thank the following people for their involvement in and support of this project:

Project officer

Sue McAllister, AICAFMHA

• Mr Philip Robinson (chair), Chief, Division of Mental Health, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, South Australia;
• Ms Vicki Cowling, Mental Health Promotion Officer, Maroondah Hospital, Victoria
• Dr Nick Kowalenko, Clinical Director, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Royal North Shore Hospital, New South Wales;
• Professor Stewart Einfeld, Associate Professor, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Program, South East Sydney Area Health Service (SESAHS), New South Wales;
• Ms Ann MacMillan, Project Officer, Mental Health Unit, Queensland Health, Queensland;
• Ms Sue Ash, Executive Director, Wanslea Family Services Inc, Western Australia;
• Ms Christine Handley, Clinical Lecturer, Mental Health Program, School of Nursing, University of Tasmania, Tasmania;
• Professor Ross Kalucy, Head, Department of Psychiatry, Division of Mental Health, Flinders Medical Centre, South Australia; and
• Dr Anne Sved-Williams, Director, Helen Mayo House, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, South Australia.

• Ms Yvonne Shipp, Chair, New South Wales Consumer Advisory Group (Mental Health), New South Wales Department of Health, New South Wales;
• Ms Marilyn Kraner, Senior Project Officer, Mental Health Branch, Department of Human Services, Victoria;
• Professor Graham Martin, Flinders University Director, Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention, Division of Mental Health, Flinders Medical Centre, South Australia; and
• Ms Paola Mason, Children of Mentally Ill Consumers (COMIC), South Australia.

Over the course of the project, other opportunities arose for consultation, and the association wishes to thank these agencies and individuals for their participation, advice and support:

• the Interagency Collaboration for Children of Parents with Mental Illness (ICCOPMI), a network of service providers concerned with services for children of parents affected by mental illness in Western Australia;
• the South Australian Forum on Children and Young Relatives of People with Mental Illness;
• Ms Suzanne Pope, Project Officer, Centre for Mental Health, New South Wales Health Department;
• the National Mental Health Promotion and Prevention Working Party (PPWP); and
• the federal Department of Health and Aged Care.

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Last Modified: 11-12-2002 16:36:28