Living with Mentally Ill Parent

Abstract

The present review seeks to identify and analyze qualitative studies that examined experiences of children whose parents have a mental illness. This study reported that children whose parents have a mental illness had some common experiences. These experiences may have negative effects on children's coping skills, resilience to tough living conditions and ability to maintain their mental health. In spite of these negative conditions, some of these children have much more self-confidence, resilience and independence because of inner development and early maturation. Some effective intervention programs are needed to promote information to children and other family members about mental illness, coping behaviors. Availability of such psychiatric services and nation-wide programs with professionals to deal with these problems should be organized properly to increase quality of life of these children. Furthermore, qualitative researches that explore the experiences of children whose parents with mental illness should also be conducted in our country.

Keywords

• mentally ill parents, children, mental disorder

Ruhsal Hastalığı Olan Ebeveynle Yaşamak

Öz

Bu çalışmanın amacı, ruhsal hastalığı olan ebeveynlerin çocuklarının yaşam deneyimlerinin araştırıldığı kalitatif çalışmaları tanımlamak ve sistematik olarak incelemektir. Bu çalışma, ebeveyninde ruhsal hastalık olan çocukların benzer dramatik deneyimler yaşadıklarını göstermiştir. Bu deneyimlerin çocukların baş etme becerisi geliştirmesi, zorlayıcı yaşam olaylarına dayanıklılık göstermesi ve ruh sağlığını koruması yönünden olumsuz etkileri olabilmektedir. Tüm bu olumsuzluklara karşın, bazı çocukların erken olgunlaşma ve içsel gelişim nedeniyle, özgüvenlerinin geliştiği, bağımsızlıklarının arttığı ve daha dayanıklı oldukları da belirtilmektedir. Çalışmamızın sonuçları, ruhsal hastalığı olan ebeveynlerin çocuklarını ve diğer aile üyelerini bilgilendirecek, baş etme becerilerini güçlendirecek, mevcut hizmetlere ulaşımı kolaylaştıracak bir dizi müdahale programının oluşturulmasının ve bu programları yürütecek özel bir insan gücü yetiştirilmesinin önemini ortaya koymuştur.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• ruhsal hastalığı olan ebeveyn, çocuklar, ruhsal hastalık

Kaynakça

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