Healthy development in children of parents who are emotionally ill

Abstract

All children require responsive, nurturing, and loving relationships, particularly in their early years. These relationships impact on children's development, both physiologically and psychologically. Given the importance of the parent-child relationship and the challenges all parents face, it is essential that parents are provided with support in providing supportive environments to their children. At the same time, parents who have a mental illness face the same demands that all parents do, in addition to managing their mental illness. This entry considers the various risk and protective factors associated for children, aged 5-12, whose parent has a mental illness. Interventions that promote positive determinants on children's well-being and/or aim to reduce risk factors for families will also be presented. This entry might be read in conjunction with another entry in this edition, which focuses on adolescents whose parent has a mental illness.