What information may help understand how a mental health condition affects a family?

It is very important that accurate and up to date information about a parent or carer’s mental ill-health is available. Having this helps to make sure a family’s situation is properly understood. It can help to get the right help and support in place.

Information that may be important and useful is set out below:

• Information from a GP, other treating doctors, community psychiatric nurse or others involved in supporting a parent or carer
• If children’s services are involved, they may ask the parent or carer to engage with either a psychological assessment or a psychiatric assessment. The type of assessment will depend on what the nature of the mental health condition is. The assessment report can help children’s services and parents gain a better understanding of the condition and its affects. The report can include advice about how best to help
• Children can have important insight into their parent or carer’s mental ill-health and how it affects family life. Where it is appropriate, children may be able to share their insights so that these are included in assessment work and planning
• Wider family and friends may have important information and insights to share. They may be able to offer help and support; this should be explored. A family group conference can be a good way to do this. A family group conference is a family-led planning meeting. It brings together the whole family, and others who are important to the child. Together, they make a plan for the child. See our Family group conferences: advice for families page for further information.