This chapter discusses the impact of a parent's mental illness on their children, including the challenges faced by both the parent and the children. It explores how the parent's symptoms and hospitalizations can affect the children's well-being and development, as well as the dynamics within the family. The chapter also touches on the guilt felt by the parent and offers advice on managing it.
Being a parent can be very rewarding, but if you are managing your own mental health you may not be able to be the parent you’d like to be. It can be sad and confusing for kids too—and they often take on a caring role.