Potential Implications for Mental Health Clinicians
Clinicians working with adult patients with serious mental illnesses should inquire specifically about their children and potentially meet with those children to answer questions and provide support. The presence of a serious mental illness is not grounds for separation, though it does indicate a need for additional supports as secure attachment may be disrupted. Children should be provided with age-appropriate information and given the opportunity to talk about their care-giving roles, perceptions of stigma or embarrassment, and concerns about the family's well-being.