Dunn, Abigail (2022) Parenting in the context of mental health difficulties: parental experiences, support needs and the engagement of mental health services. Doctoral thesis (PhD), University of Sussex.

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Abstract

Background
Children of parents with mental health difficulties (MHD) are at increased risk of poorer outcomes, including of developing a psychiatric disorder. Interventions to support the parenting of individuals with MHD are advantageous to both parent and child. When a parent is treated within the mental health system there is an opportunity to identify their support needs in relation to their child.

Methods
Presenting four research studies, this thesis describes the experience and support needs of parents with MHD and the engagement of mental health services with these needs: (1) Qualitative exploration of the experience and support needs of parents (n = 12) with borderline personality disorder and practitioners (n =21) who work with them. (2) National survey of 1105 mental health workers to measure engagement and attitudes towards ‘patient as parent’. (3) Systematic review of the experience of psychiatric inpatients who are parents and of parenting-focused interventions. (4) Pilot of a group-based intervention for NHS workers with dependent children.

Results
Parents with MHD describe challenges to parenting and a desire for support in their role as a parent. The limited availability of support was identified by both parents and their clinicians (1). This was mirrored in the survey mental health practitioners which found that 25% of adult mental health practitioners did not routinely ascertain whether patients had dependent children and under 50% engaged with parenting experience or support needs (2). There is no evidence of current UK interventions to support parents who are in receipt of inpatient care despite the clear difficulties they describe (3). Supporting mental health workers who are parents improved their parenting practice (4).

Discussion
Despite the manifest and stated support needs of parents with mental health challenges, there remains a clear lack of provision of this support within UK mental health services.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Schools and Departments:	School of Psychology > Psychology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology > BF0636 Applied psychology R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry > RC0438 Psychiatry, including Psychopathology
Depositing User:	Library Cataloguing
Date Deposited:	04 Jan 2023 12:15
Last Modified:	04 Jan 2023 12:15
URI:	http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/109974

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