Child welfare involvement of mothers with mental health issues.
Many mothers with mental health issues are caught up in the child protection system and face the prospect of having their children removed from their care. The aim of this study was to determine prevalence and outcomes for mothers with mental health issues and their children in child maltreatment cases opened for investigation in Canada. The method was secondary analysis of the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS-2003) core data. This CIS-2003 contains process and outcome data on a nationally representative sample of 11,652 child maltreatment investigations. Maternal mental health issues were noted in 2,272 (19.7%) cases opened for investigation. The most common child protection concerns were neglect, emotional maltreatment and exposure to domestic violence. A significant association was found between maternal mental health issues and child maltreatment investigation outcomes, with many potentially confounding variables held constant. Broad spectrum, multi-disciplinary services are needed to support mothers with mental health issues. Effective mental health care is vital but insufficient. Addressing trauma, strengthening social relationships and alleviating poverty are also key. Systemic advocacy is needed to ensure that mothers with mental health issues can access broad spectrum supports.
Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Callie
C
Westad
David
D
McConnell
D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D016487:Parenting; D015995:Prevalence; D011640:Public Policy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
J Interpers Violence. 2008 Apr;23(4):437-53
18252937
J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1984 Apr;25(2):211-29
6707110
J Clin Psychiatry. 2006 Jan;67(1):126-36
16426099
Child Abuse Negl. 1991;15(4):389-401
1959072
Child Abuse Negl. 2008 Mar;32(3):393-404
18377986
Psychol Med. 1984 Nov;14(4):853-80
6545419
Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2004 Jun;39(6):472-82
15205732
Am J Orthopsychiatry. 2000 Jul;70(3):296-315
10953777
Psychiatr Serv. 2006 Apr;57(4):493-7
16603744
Health Soc Work. 2004 Nov;29(4):317-25
15575459
Can J Psychiatry. 1997 Aug;42(6):623-31
9288425