The Welfare of Children with Mentally Ill Parents

The Welfare of Children with Mentally Ill Parents examines theinterventions made by professional workers from a range ofdifferent disciplines in families with dependent children and amentally ill parent. The authors compare responses of professionalsin ten European countries and one state in Australia. The analysisof the differences sheds new light on both the inherent andsystem-determined difficulties in helping families to manage theirsituation effectively. * Features the only comparative study of mental health socialservices and the law governing compulsory hospital admission * Covers a current "e;hot-button"e; topic that is growing in importanceas the impact of social policy developments on children over timebecomes more apparent * Offers a unique perspective due to the focus on the impact ofchildren of mentally ill parents and the international systems thatdeal with child protection

The Welfare of Children with Mentally Ill Parents examines theinterventions made by professional workers from a range ofdifferent disciplines in families with dependent children and amentally ill parent. The authors compare responses of professionalsin ten European countries and one state in Australia. The analysisof the differences sheds new light on both the inherent andsystem-determined difficulties in helping families to manage theirsituation effectively.* Features the only comparative study of mental health socialservices and the law governing compulsory hospital admission* Covers a current "hot-button" topic that is growing in importanceas the impact of social policy developments on children over timebecomes more apparent* Offers a unique perspective due to the focus on the impact ofchildren of mentally ill parents and the international systems thatdeal with child protection

List of Figures and Tables.About the Authors.Preface.I INTRODUCTION: USING COMPARISON.1 The Context and the Method.2 The Systems of the Partner Countries: Introduction and theScandinavian Law Countries.3 The Systems of the Partner Countries: the ContinentalCountries and the English-Speaking Countries.4 Compulsory Hospitalisation in Mental Health and StateIntervention for Child Protection.5 The Responses of the Partner Countries to the Vignette.6 Issues.7 Inter-Country Reflections.II INTRODUCTION: WORKING WITH DIFFERENCE.8 Comparisons: England, Germany and Italy.9 The State and the Family: Explaining Variations inInterventions.10 Risk, Childhood and Mental Health.11 Co-operation and Communication.III INTRODUCTION: DEVELOPING NEW INFORMATION.12 Invisible Children.13 Meeting Needs.14 Conclusions.Appendix: The Professions Represented in the DiscussionGroups.Glossary and Index of Acronyms.References.Index.