Parenting

Mental Illness and Parenting

by kmwisniewski

~5min read

Among parents living in the United States between 2008 and 2014, 2.7 million (3.8%) had a serious mental illness (SMI), and 12.8 million (18.2%) had any mental illness (AMI) that was diagnosable within the past year.4 This included all parents of children from birth to 18 years who were biological, adopted, or foster living in the same household as the parent.4 Mothers revealed to be more at risk than fathers, and parents aged younger than 50 years also were found to be at greater risk.4 However, fathers seemed underrepresented in most research or generally under-reported symptoms. This information demonstrates that the burden in the United States for parents with a mental illness is high.4

The NIMH² defines AMI and SMI as:

Any mental illness (AMI) is defined as a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder. AMI can vary in impact, ranging from no impairment to mild, moderate, and even severe impairment (e.g., individuals with serious mental illness as defined below).

Serious mental illness (SMI) is defined as a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder resulting in serious functional impairment, which substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities. The burden of mental illnesses is particularly concentrated among those who experience disability due to SMI.

Now, let’s put this into perspective. In 2017, SAMHSA6 estimated that in the United States, there were 46.6 million (18.9%) adults aged 18 or older with AMI and 11.2 million (4.5%) adults aged 18 or older with SMI. It’s important to acknowledge that this data excluded developmental and substance use disorders.² Therefore, assuming the numbers have remained relatively stable, we could estimate that roughly 1 in 4 adults aged 18 or older living in the United States, with a diagnoseable AMI or SMI, is also a parent to a child living in the same household.

Additional research suggests that this rate is even higher in some parts of the world, with up to 1 in 3 adults accessing mental health services being parents caring for dependent children.8 This is a large proportion potentially contributed to one group. This increasingly supports the need for providers who are treating patients that are parents to routinely screen them for mental illness and discuss its implications for parenting.4

The child’s pediatrician may often be the only health care provider with whom parents have regular contact.7 This puts them in a unique position to recognize parental mental illness. Especially when parents raise concerns about their child’s behavioral or cognitive development, their mental illness may be an underlying cause or an exacerbating factor.7 Thus, it’s essential that these physicians assess mental illness among parents and have the knowledge to respond with the appropriate steps to take.1

Unfortunately, despite increased awareness on this subject, there is still a gap in recognizing and responding to parental mental health needs. Particularly during early daily interactions in their child’s life, which is confirmed to be crucial to optimal human development.¹ The details regarding specific influences parental mental illness bestows on our children are quite depressing. No pun intended as depression is the most common mental illness among parents of young children.3

Frequently, parents experience shame and guilt around their parenting struggles and the impacts of their illness on their children, leading to the worsening of their mental illness.10 When living with a mental illness, parenting affects one’s entire personality and life, as described using the following five themes10:

Parenting: (1) gives a person living with mental illness a positively validated identity; (2) affects interpersonal dynamics; (3) provides meaning and structure; (4) affords opportunities for growth; and (5) facilitates the exchange of positive emotions, such as love and joy.5

This issue is complex, but having a mental illness does not make someone less human or less worthy of parenting children. Instead, those with mental illnesses needs and challenges are not dissimilar from those of all parents striving to be successful in this role.5 Despite their mental health problems, limitations in energy, and time, among other negative forces such as the stigma of mental illness and associated parenting discriminations, these parents regularly feel capable of raising their children with practical strategies that lead to successful outcomes.5  

These strategies involved full dedication to the parental role, establishing a healthy balance between attention for one’s own life and parenting, and securing adequate support sources.5 This looks like the creation of daily routines, the pursuit of shared interests and activities, problem-solving, and finding strength in meeting parenting challenges.5 Parents express their feelings and seek support through informal and professional networks in relationships with family, school contacts, and community members. Developing their competency of requesting and accepting help. All of which contribute to personal growth and recovery.

References

  1. Gupta, S., & Ford-Jones, E. (2014). Recognizing and Responding to Parental Mental Health Needs: What Can We Do Now?. Paediatrics & Child Health, 19(7), 357–361.
  2. National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Statistics Mental Illness. Received on September 29, 2020 from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness.shtml
  3. Horwitz, S.M., Briggs-Gowan, M.J., Storfer-Isser, A., & Carter, A.S. (2007). Prevalence, Correlates, and Persistence of Maternal Depression. J Womens Health (Larchmt), 16(5):678-91.
  4. Prevalence of Serious Mental Illness Among Parents in the United States: Results from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health, 2008-2014. (2017). Annals of Epidemiology, 3, 222.
  5. van der Ende, P.C., van Busschbach, J.T., Nicholson, J., Korevaar, E.L., & van Weeghel, J. (2016). Strategies for Parenting by Mothers and Fathers with a Mental Illness. J. Psychiatr. Ment. Health Nurs., 23: 86-97. doi:10.1111/jpm.12283
  6. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2018). Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (HHS Publication No. SMA 18-5068, NSUDH Series H-53). Rockville, MD: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Received on September 29, 2020 from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/cbhsq-reports/NSDUHFFR2017/NSDUHFFR2017.pdf
  7. Olson, A., Kemper, K., Kelleher, K., Hammond, C., Zuckerman, B., & Dietrich, A. (2002). Primary Care Pediatricians’ Role and Perceived Responsibilities in the Identification and Management of Maternal Depression. Pediatrics, 110, 1169–76. Received on November 1, 2020 from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12456915/
  8. Maybery, D.J., Reupert, A.E., Patrick, K., Goodyear, M., & Crase, L. (2009). Prevalence of Parental Mental Illness in Australian Families. Psychiatr Bull.,33,22–6.
  9. Ackerson, B.J. (2003). Coping with the Dual Demands of Severe Mental Illness and Parenting: The Parents’ Perspective. Fam Soc.,84,109–18. Received on November 1, 2020 from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232477831_Coping_With_the_Dual_Demands_of_Severe_Mental_Illness_and_Parenting_The_Parents’_Perspective/link/55faf13b08ae07629e07b648/download
  10. Carpenter‐Song, E. & Nicholson, J. (2012) Parenting as a Context for Recovery for Women with Mental Illness. Child and Youth Mental Health Matter Conference. Vancouver, BC, 6–8 May 2012.

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