Family options for parents with mental illnesses: A developmental, mixed methods pilot study.

Abstract

Innovative study design and analytic strategies are required to build the evidence base and promote rapid dissemination of effective interventions. Findings from this study will assist purveyors in refining the intervention, and will lay the groundwork for further replication and testing to build the evidence base for parents with serious mental illnesses and their families.

Intervention programs for children whose parents have a mental illness: a review

“…[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] Of these, six programs target families where a parent has depression and/or anxiety. 7,8,[10][11][12][13] The most prominent, Family Talk, targets families where a parent is diagnosed with a major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder, with children aged between 8 and 15 years who have never been treated for an affective disorder.…”

“…10,11 Family Talk employs a cognitive psychoeducational approach of between six and 10 sessions, some of which are directed to parents, some to the children and some to the whole family. Another program, Family Options, 9 employs a care-coordination model tailored for individual families where a parent has a serious mental illness; however, at this point, child outcomes are not available.…”

Supporting clubhouse members in their role as parents: Necessary conditions for policy and practice initiatives.

“…The program and study reflect the culmination of a longstanding collaboration between a team of researchers from the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) and the Clubhouse to understand and respond to the needs of parents (Nicholson, Albert, Gershenson, Williams, & Biebel, 2009). The focus group study was designed article mental health diagnoses (Morgan, 1988).…”

Supported Parenting to Meet the Needs and Concerns of Mothers with Severe Mental Illness

“…Supported parenting should involve a variety of related but distinct components, including the developments of supports that are consistent with and address mothers’ stated emotional, practical, and psychological needs. Pilot analyses of a supported parenting initiative developed by Nicholson and colleagues (2009) suggests that mothers’ mental health status, social support, and access to needed services improved after they received instrumental assistance connecting with resources. Also beneficial to mothers was modeling from Family Coaches on time management, conflict resolution, and advocacy skills (Nicholson et al, 2009).…”

“…Analogous to supported employment, supported parenting initiatives should aim to provide mothers diagnosed with SMI with a range of instrumental, emotional, and social assistance so that they may fulfill their parenting responsibilities to their fullest potential (see also Nicholson, Albert, Gershenson, Williams, & Biebel, 2009). Unlike supported employment, in which the beneficial impact of employment falls primarily to the employed individual, though, supported parenting affects, at minimum, two people (and possibly more) because these interventions target a parent’s ability to care for her dependent child (or children).…”