title: Supporting families of parents with mental illness in general practice.
abstract: The general-practice setting provides a unique opportunity to positively influence the impact of mental illness on individuals and families. Intervention can begin from the moment an individual seeks professional help. Using a family-focused approach, and supporting parents to develop practical strategies to promote resilience in their children, can aid parents' recovery and promote the optimal emotional wellbeing of their children. We suggest a family-orientated therapeutic approach relevant to the general-practice setting, with particular consideration of the value of communicating with children according to the child's stage of emotional development.
authors.affiliation: Torrens House Parenting Unit, Child and Family Health Service, Women's and Children's Health Network, Adelaide, SA, Australia. michaela.baulderstone@health.sa.gov.au.
authors.forename: Michaela J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Baulderstone
authors.affiliation: Children of Parents with a Mental Illness national initiative, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Bradley S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: Children of Parents with a Mental Illness national initiative, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Fudge
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology; D003142:Communication; D005192:Family Health; D058005:General Practitioners; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents; D010819:Physician's Role; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations