Sharing the Journey Background © Skylight, No reproduction without permission

Grief hit me like a boxer hits his punching bag… hard, low, and over and over again. A powerful pain cold, raw and aching hurting me… never leaving me… Twisted pain confusing and disorienting tangling thoughts and emotions into chaos Which way through it? Round it? Out of it? And why is there no map? © Skylight, No reproduction without permission

Sharing the Journey Building Resilience Children increase their resilience by giving them opportunities to: Enhance their coping skills and self-esteem Explore and express their feelings in a safe environment Form peer relationships Engage with other helpful adults Learn more about mental illness Strengthen bonds between children and parents © Skylight, No reproduction without permission

Sharing the Journey Developmental Approach Supporting Families with Parental Mental Illness, British Columbia Ministry of Children and Family Development, and Ministry of Health Services, 2002 © Skylight, No reproduction without permission

Sharing the Journey Developmental Tasks: Children aged 6-12 Emotional development Development of concrete operational thought Educational adjustment Children become less dependent Increased association with friends Development of a sense of competence and importance Onset of puberty © Skylight, No reproduction without permission

Sharing the Journey Impacts on Children Experience loss or disorganisation at onset of illness or at hospitalisation Experience anxiety due to chaos and lack of structure, and may be afraid to leave caregiver alone Feel anger toward caregiver for not fulfilling caregiver role, not providing what other caregivers provide Compete with ill parent for attention to get their needs met Be accustomed to hostility, violence and verbal abuse in the home Be emotionally neglected, which impacts all aspect of functioning (skills, learning relations with peers and teachers), develop depression, not experiment with their abilities, be afraid to take risks © Skylight, No reproduction without permission

Sharing the Journey Impacts on Children (cont’d) Have process of individuation interrupted Have overdeveloped capabilities in care giving but lack emotional capability Internalise, become over-achievers, attempt to maintain order Feel isolated, or have limited resources, which prevents them from joining social and group activities Straddle two worlds, two sets of rules, inside vs. outside the home Have safety issues © Skylight, No reproduction without permission

Sharing the Journey Practical Guidelines on working with Children © Skylight, No reproduction without permission

Sharing the Journey Programme Structure Pre-group interviews Three consecutive mornings during school holidays Concurrent sessions for parents/caregivers Group make-up: children aged 6-11 Staffing © Skylight, No reproduction without permission

Sharing the Journey Aims of the Sessions Session 1: Starting Out © Skylight, No reproduction without permission

Sharing the Journey Aims of the Sessions Session 2: Sharing Together and Learning about Anger © Skylight, No reproduction without permission

Sharing the Journey Aims of the Sessions Session 3: Taking Care of Ourselves © Skylight, No reproduction without permission

Sharing the Journey Parent/Caregiver Discussion points The parenting role The impact of parenting on mental illness The impact of mental illness on parenting Key Messages Normalize their experience and feelings Form a healthy attachment with their children Let children know it’s not their fault © Skylight, No reproduction without permission

Sharing the Journey Individual and Family Strengths © Skylight, No reproduction without permission