Child Welfare Involvement of Mothers with Mental Health Issues

Abstract

Many mothers with mental health issues are caught up in the child protection system and face the prospect of having their children removed from their care. The aim of this study was to determine prevalence and outcomes for mothers with mental health issues and their children in child maltreatment cases opened for investigation in Canada. The method was secondary analysis of the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS-2003) core data. This CIS-2003 contains process and outcome data on a nationally representative sample of 11,652 child maltreatment investigations. Maternal mental health issues were noted in 2,272 (19.7%) cases opened for investigation. The most common child protection concerns were neglect, emotional maltreatment and exposure to domestic violence. A significant association was found between maternal mental health issues and child maltreatment investigation outcomes, with many potentially confounding variables held constant. Broad spectrum, multi-disciplinary services are needed to support mothers with mental health issues. Effective mental health care is vital but insufficient. Addressing trauma, strengthening social relationships and alleviating poverty are also key. Systemic advocacy is needed to ensure that mothers with mental health issues can access broad spectrum supports.

Maternal mental health and risk of child protection involvement: mental health diagnoses associated with increased risk

“…Lower prevalence but similar risk ratios were found in American research among Medicaid-eligible mothers: child welfare services were received by 14.6% of mothers with serious mental illnesses, 10.8% of mothers with ‘other psychiatric diagnoses’ and 4.2% of mothers without diagnoses 7. Doubled risk of substantiated maltreatment was reported in Canada 6. These studies align with our findings regarding a twofold to fourfold increased risk of child protection involvement associated with mental illness.…”

“…Prevalence findings are consistent with previous Australian research suggesting primary caregivers had mental health problems in 51% of maltreatment substantiations,5 and higher than reported elsewhere 6 7. Lower prevalence but similar risk ratios were found in American research among Medicaid-eligible mothers: child welfare services were received by 14.6% of mothers with serious mental illnesses, 10.8% of mothers with ‘other psychiatric diagnoses’ and 4.2% of mothers without diagnoses 7.…”

“…However, not all families had an assessment, and these were not conducted by mental health professionals. By contrast, a Canadian study found only 19.7% of child protection cases noted maternal mental health issues, which were associated with doubled risk of substantiations 6. Park et al ,7 using linked administrative data, found increased rates of service provision and out-of-home care among Medicaid-eligible mothers with psychiatric diagnoses.…”

Parenting and proximity to social services: Lessons from Los Angeles County in the community context of child neglect

“…Children of parents who have mental health and/or substance abuse problems are substantially more likely to experience maltreatment and child welfare system involvement than those who do not (Besinger, Garland, Litrownik & Landsverk, 1999; Kotch, Browne, Dufort & Winsor, 1999; Westad & McConnell, 2012). This suggests that the accessibility of community services designed to promote mental health and manage drug and alcohol addictions could play an important role in lowering in communities’ child maltreatment risk.…”

Families with parental mental illness: supporting children in psychiatric and social services

“…The risk of family discord, stress, and conflicts between the child and the parent and between the parent and other family members (Venkataram & Ackerson, 2008) may increase. Parental mental illness can also be compounded with other risk factors, such as comorbidity and poverty, unemployment, and social isolation (Westad & McConnell, 2012), factors that affect the child's development and family life. Furthermore, the parent's awareness of his or her mental health, as well as the kind of support the parent receives, may influence the parenting (Beardslee, 2002;Solantaus & Toikka, 2006;Van der Ende, Busschbach, Nicholson, Korevaar, & Weeghel, 2016).…”