doi.org/10.1017/S103507720000599X
Article type: Original Research
1 January 2004
Volume 29 Issue 2
doi.org/10.1017/S103507720000599X
Article type: Original Research
1 January 2004
Volume 29 Issue 2
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Learning together about the needs of parents with a mental illness and their children: The implementation of the Mums' and Dads' Practice Research Project
Carmel Alakus1
Affiliations
1 Inner West Area Mental Health Service, Moonee Ponds, Victoria, Research Assistant, Mental Health Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, carmel.alakus@mh.org.au
Contributions
Carmel Alakus -
Carmel Alakus1
Affiliations
1 Inner West Area Mental Health Service, Moonee Ponds, Victoria, Research Assistant, Mental Health Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, carmel.alakus@mh.org.au
CITATION: Alakus C. (2004). Learning together about the needs of parents with a mental illness and their children: The implementation of the Mums' and Dads' Practice Research Project. Children Australia, 29(2), 1489. doi.org/10.1017/S103507720000599X
Abstract
The busy clinical practitioner, while being encouraged to innovate and formally evaluate his or her work, has less time than ever before to do either.
The Mums' and Dads' Project represented a modest attempt to implement a short-term parent education project in adult mental health and review it in the style of practice-research. A number of qualitative methods were employed to research the Project conducted in the Mid West Area Mental Health Service exploring consumer satisfaction and parents' perspectives of their children's needs.
Consumers attended the sessions readily, demonstrating knowledge of child development and a willingness to confront the difficult issue of informing children about mental illness. They reiterated how much they appreciated meeting other parents with a mental illness.
Service delivery to parents with a mental illness and their children deserves dedicated funding if their needs are to be addressed and programs carefully evaluated.