Identity in Personal Recovery for Mothers With a Mental Illness

Developing a “positive identity” is considered a core component of personal recovery, and mothering offers meaning in life and a valued identity. Few studies have highlighted the factors influencing identity within a personal recovery paradigm for mothers with mental illness. This study explores how mothers describe their identity in relation to recovery, including the factors that influence identity. Using constructivist grounded theory methodology, in-depth interviews were conducted with 17 women who were mothers and experienced mental illness. Women defined their self-concept broadly, accentuating motherhood, but also including vocational, community and social roles. Analysis revealed six categories: defining self, becoming a mother, being a “good” mum, feeling different, doing it my way and speaking out. Valuing identity in parenting was found to be linked to recovery. Services may facilitate personal recovery by supporting mothers to enhance a self-concept associated with mothering, as well as other diverse attributes and roles

Perceived family cohesion, social support, and quality of life in patients undergoing treatment for substance use disorders compared with patients with mental and physical disorders

Abstract Purpose Support from family and other social network elements can be important in helping patients to cope with practical and emotional consequences of diseases. The aim of the study was to examine perception of family and social support and quality of life (QoL) in patients undergoing treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs). We compared them with patients in treatment for mental disorders (MDs) and physical disorders (PDs). Methods We used data from a national multicenter study that recruited patients (N  =  518) from three treatment domains; SUD treatment units, MD treatment units, and PD treatment units (severe neurological conditions or cancer). Data on family cohesion, social support, and QoL were compared across patient groups. In addition, data on health variables was collected. We used a multiple linear regression procedure to examine how health and support variables were associated with QoL. Results Family cohesion and social support in the SUD and MD groups were rated at similarly low levels, substantially lower than in the PD group. The SUD group exhibited a somewhat lower QoL than did the PD group, but their QoL was still in the near-to-normal range. In contrast, the MD group had markedly low QoL. When examining factors associated with QoL, we found that greater family cohesion and social support were positively associated with QoL. Mental distress was the strongest factor, and was negatively associated with QoL (beta − 0.15, 95% CI  =  − 0.17/− 0.14, p  <  0.001). Conclusion Service providers need to be aware of the weaker networks and less regulatory family and/or social support available to patients with SUDs. Providers should focus consistently on the social networks of patients and include patients’ families in treatment processes

Mental health professionals' family-focused practice with families with dependent children:A survey study

Background:Many people with a mental illness are parents caring for dependent children. These children are atgreater risk of developing their own mental health concerns compared to other children. Mental health services areopportune places for healthcare professionals to identify clients’parenting status and address the needs of theirchildren. There is a knowledge gap regarding Thai mental health professionals’family-focused knowledge andpractices when working with parents with mental illness and their children and families.Methods:This cross–sectional survey study examined the attitudes, knowledge and practices of a sample (n= 349)of the Thai mental health professional workforce (nurses, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists) using atranslated version of the Family-Focused Mental Health Practice Questionnaire (FFMHPQ).Results:The majority of clinicians reported no training in family (76.8%) or child-focused practice (79.7%). Compared toother professional groups, psychiatric nurses reported lower scores on almost all aspects of family-focused practiceexcept supporting clients in their parenting role within the context of their mental illness. Social workers scoredhighest overall including having more workplace support for family-focused practice as well as a higher awareness offamily-focused policy and procedures than psychiatrists; social workers also scored higher than psychologists onproviding support to families and parents. All mental health care professional groups reported a need for training andinter-professional practice when working with families.Conclusions:The findings indicate an important opportunity for the prevention of intergenerational mental illness inwhose parents have mental illness by strengthening the professional development of nurses and other healthprofessionals in child and family-focused knowledge and practice

Developing an Australian-first recovery model for parents in Victorian mental health and family services:A study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND: A considerable number of people with a mental illness are parents caring for dependent children. For those with a mental illness, parenting can provide a sense of competence, belonging, identity and hope and hence is well aligned to the concept of personal recovery. However, little research has focused on the recovery journey of those who are parents and have a mental illness. This randomised controlled trial aims to (i) evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention model of recovery for parents (Let\u27s Talk about Children) in three different mental health service sectors and (ii) examine the economic value of a larger roll out (longer term) of the parent recovery model. METHODS: A two arm parallel randomised controlled trial will be used with participants, who are being treated for their mental illness in adult mental health, non-government community mental health or family welfare services. The study will involve 192 parents, who are considered by their treating practitioner to be sufficiently well to provide informed consent and participate in an intervention (Let\u27s Talk about Children) or control group (treatment as usual). Participant randomisation will occur at the level of the treating practitioner and will be based on whether the randomised practitioner is trained in the intervention. Outcomes are compared at pre, post intervention and six-month follow-up. Recovery, parenting and family functioning, and quality of life questionnaires will be used to measure parent wellbeing and the economic benefits of the intervention. DISCUSSION: This is the first randomised controlled trial to investigate the efficacy of a parenting intervention on recovery outcomes and the first to provide an economic evaluation of an intervention for parents with a mental illness. An implementation model is required to embed the intervention in different sectors. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was retrospectively registered: ACTRN12616000460404 on the 8/4/2016