Adult children of parents with mental illness: navigating stigma

Title
Adult children of parents with mental illness: navigating stigma
Publication Date
2017
Author(s)
Murphy, Gillian
Peters, Kath
Wilkes, Lesley
Jackson, Debra
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Place of publication
United Kingdom
DOI
10.1111/cfs.12246
UNE publication id
une:21112
Abstract
The experiences of children who live with parental mental illness are becoming increasingly recognized. However, there remains a limited body of knowledge in relation to an individual's longer term experiences. This study sought adult children's experiences of childhood parental mental illness. It generated reflections of 13 adult children who had lived with parents with mental illness during their childhood. The narrative design of the study facilitated a voice for participants. The paper presents one main theme of the findings. The findings offer a unique insight into childhood awareness of social stigmas and children's behavioural changes to avoid disclosure of parental mental illness. Participants noted that they were aware of social stigmas associated with mental illness during their childhood. This contributed to their fear of disclosure to others that fuelled a culture of familial secrecy, reinforcing the children's own sense of difference. Further work is required to enhance community understanding about the familial journeys of parental mental illness and the impact of negative-natured stigmas.
Link
Citation
Child & Family Social Work, 22(1), p. 330-338
ISSN
1365-2206
1356-7500
Start page
330
End page
338

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