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Fathers with mental illness: implications for clinicians and health services
Author(s) -
Fletcher Richard J,
Maharaj OˈNeil N,
Fletcher Watson Chloe H,
May Chris,
Skeates Nigel,
Gruenert Stefan
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/mja11.11140
Subject(s) - mental illness , mental health , psychology , psychiatry , clinical psychology , medicine , developmental psychology
Summary A significant proportion of fathers living with their natural, adopted, step or foster children experience mental illness. Psychiatric illness among fathers can have a devastating impact on children's wellbeing, and even milder forms of paternal mental illness can have serious developmental effects on children. While several pathways linking paternal mental illness with poor child outcomes have been identified, fathers’ impaired parenting is an important, potentially malleable factor. Clinicians can assist fathers with mental illness and their families by proactively inquiring about children and by exploring fathering‐focused psychological support.