At-risk children: a demographic analysis of the children of clients attending mental health community clinics.
Children of parents with mental illness have an increased risk of psychological problems. The aim of this study was to identify the demographic characteristics of dependent children of adults presenting at mental health clinics in Western Australia. A survey of clients who attended the clinics indicated that half reported having had children. Of these, 21% had a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia. Although schizophrenia was the most common illness, there were almost seven times more children living with a parent with a primary diagnosis of depression than schizophrenia. Recommendations include that children of clients with mental illness be included as part of a wider client focus.
Ahern
Kathy
K
School of Social Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. k.ahern@uq.edu.au
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology