Rehabilitation Groningen, The Netherlands Peter van der Ende Lecturer/researcher, Research department Rehabilitation Hanze university Groningen, the Netherlands Marrie Venderink Staffworker/program writer; Mental Health Institution Groningen, Rehabilitation Department

Rehabilitation Groningen, The Netherlands Parents with psychiatric disabilities

Rehabilitation Groningen, The Netherlands Project Goal:Development of an effective rehabilitation program For who: Parents with psychiatric disabilities Professional carers/Students How: Query for needs of parents (N=47) Writing a program Try-out (N=20), evaluation and correction of the program

Rehabilitation Groningen, The Netherlands Background Living in community Parents with psychiatric disabilities are in many cases single Low income / struggle for life High barrier for using services

Rehabilitation Groningen, The Netherlands Research question What needs for support have parents with psychiatric disabilities?

Rehabilitation Groningen, The Netherlands Parenthood Own life Balance

Rehabilitation Groningen, The Netherlands Research from a ‘rehabilitation’ viewpoint ’ Possibilities and needs, e.g. do you listen to child’s needs for hobbies? Not deficits like: do you neglect the child very often? Self evaluation and less observation

Rehabilitation Groningen, The Netherlands Questionnaire Scale for Satisfaction in the parent role (Cronbach’s α=.79) Four factors in scale Giving emotional support and warmth Stimulating child’s development Listening to child’s needs Organizing and coaching activities

Rehabilitation Groningen, The Netherlands -more topics- Making a balance between parenthood and own needs Improving the communication with the child

Rehabilitation Groningen, The Netherlands -questionnaire continued- After each part: Resources Need for a change Need for support

Rehabilitation Groningen, The Netherlands Research sample (N=47) Selected sample Gender Male 6 Female41 Living with partner Without partner29 With partner18 Housing: Independent35 Sheltered living 4 Residential care 8

Rehabilitation Groningen, The Netherlands Conclusions 94% (N=47) of this group is satisfied with the quantity of care But half of the group wants different help around parenthood –Support in the relationship with the child –Starting a conversation about ones problems –Educational and legal support

Rehabilitation Groningen, The Netherlands more conclusions Needs related to the disabilities: –Handling discrimination and stigmatization, sometimes also for the child –Support in mourning (loss of possibilities) 70% have needs to change (in several fields)

Rehabilitation Groningen, The Netherlands Advices Teach the program for parents in all kind of institutions Improve communication about own problems with children (Nicholson et. al. 2001) Make a plan for the support of children when psychiatric problems increase Organize small meeting groups for parents

Rehabilitation Groningen, The Netherlands Program ‘ Parenting with success and satisfaction’ For parents with psychiatric disabilities I Assessing the actual functioning in the parent role IIa Strengthening the parent role IIb Take back/broadening the parent role

Rehabilitation Groningen, The Netherlands Final congress: parenthood and psychiatric disability Amersfoort, the Netherlands. November 23 rd 2006

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