Explains difficulties you may face as a parent with a mental health problem, support available and suggestions on how to help yourself and your children.
Practical help is invaluable when someone is unwell. There can be any number of things that you could do to support someone that would make a huge difference to their stress and anxiety levels:
If your friend or family member is finding it hard to look after their family, they may worry that they will be judged or criticised if they ask for help, so it's important to be supportive and reassure them that it's ok to seek support.
Encourage them to be open about their mental health problem, so they feel comfortable coming to you if they need support.
Things you could consider or try include:
"I didn't realise becoming a parent was going to be hard but having depression and looking after a baby made me feel blank. All I can say is thank God for family and positivity."
It is important that you don't offer more support than you can genuinely give. If you feel that your friend or family member needs additional support, you could help them find the extra support they need by:
It can sometimes be really challenging to support someone with a mental health problem - you are not alone if you feel overwhelmed at times.
It is important to remember to look after your own mental health too, so you have the energy, time and distance that is necessary to be able to help. Be clear about what you can and can't do, and how much time you have available.
For example:
"Those who love me for who I am as me – rather than my diagnosis – and who are not afraid to stand up to stigma, are those I love and want around me."
This information was published in April 2019. We will revise it in 2022.
References and bibliography available on request.
If you want to reproduce this content, see our permissions and licensing page.