Breaking the Cycle of Depression and Anxiety
A new DVD for parents with mental illness, launched on 15 January, will help them to be open and talk about their mental health issues with their children.
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15 January 2013
Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Mark Butler today launched a new DVD for parents with mental illness across the country.
Mr Butler said over a million Australian children live in a household where at least one parent has a mental illness and this was a significant indicator that a child may grow up with their own mental health challenges.
“It is estimated that up to 23 per cent of children live in a household where mental illness is experienced and these children obviously face some unique challenges,” Mr Butler said.
“We know that these children are at greater risk of developing a mental health or substance abuse issue.”
“We’re encouraging parents to be open and talk about their mental health issue with their children and the DVD is designed to help start the conversation.”
“Many parents find it tough to talk about their experience of depression and anxiety with their children, yet talking about the problem helps the whole family to manage together.”
Funded by the Australian Government, the DVD, called Family Focus, is based on an approach developed by US-based Dr William Beardslee, an internationally acclaimed specialist in mental illness prevention.
It was developed in collaboration with Australian psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health nurses, occupational therapists, social workers, researchers and Australian parents and children with lived experience of parental depression/anxiety.
Mr Butler said it was the first time the Australian Government had provided such a resource.
“This work will build upon the previous achievements of the COPMI national initiative, including the ‘Dads do it for your kids’ campaign, which commenced in April 2012.”
The DVD is available for free from the Family Focus website
For more information contact the minister’s office on 02 6277 7280
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