Recently we have talked a great deal about mental health. Something our Independent Social Workers have to deal with on a regular basis. For this week’s Advanced Insights, our Panel Manager, Debbie delves deeper into the complex relationship between mental health and parenting.
“At Advanced CCA we have over 110 Independent Social Workers and can confidently say that every one of them will have come across mental health issues in the assessments they have undertaken. Many of them will have experienced mental health problems personally, either directly or indirectly. Mental health problems are indiscriminate. They do not target the most vulnerable within society, nor do they care about gender, religious persuasion, ethnicity or class. Mental disorders are not caused by character flaws, they have nothing to do with being lazy or weak. The stigma that is attached to mental health is likely related to the complexities surrounding it. From low mood and anxiety to the more complex disorders, such as Schizophrenia, Bipolar and frequent diagnosis of a range of Personality Disorders, it can never be assumed that mental health problems lead to poor and ineffective parenting.
Mental health includes emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through to adulthood. In its most basic context, our mental health can fluctuate daily. An unexpected bill, a phone call, work and relationship stresses can alter our mental health dramatically in an instant but for most of us, these are stressors that are manageable. For some however, they can be overwhelming and have a significant impact on how they function and how they behave. Treatments and therapies are perhaps as varied as mental health problems, as are their success rates and it is crucial that assessments are focussed and look beyond a diagnosis.
Parenting is demanding in itself but when faced with a considerable range of additional risk factors like adverse childhood experiences, genetic disorders, domestic abuse, financial difficulties, housing issues and drug and alcohol dependence to name a few, the emotional burden can be as debilitating as an physical health problem. A lack of motivation, low mood, anger or suicidal thoughts and acts can leave parents finding difficulty in recognising and responding to their children’s physical and emotional needs. They may struggle to set boundaries or maintain routines for their children and consequently, to manage behaviours when their children demand the attention that they need through challenging behaviours.
Many parents with mental health problems are able to give their children safe and loving care, without their children being negatively affected in any way. But sometimes they need support from family members, friends, neighbours and/or professionals, to help them care for their children. This is an essential element of assessment that can offer an opportunity for a parent to get the help that they need whilst the child is effectively safeguarded. Family Courts aim to conclude Care Proceedings in 26 weeks and this is to minimise disruption and delay for children however, it leaves only limited scope for a parent with recurring and long-term mental health problems to achieve the necessary changes in order for them to effectively meet the needs of their children. A strong and committed support network can serve to ameliorate concerns for a child and support a parent during their recovery.
Our Independent Social Workers aspire to utilise every available resource for parents to ensure opportunities for change are available to parents and the best outcomes for children are achieved, recognising that if risks can be reduced through support, this should be for the child to remain within their family.”
