Children of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI) National Initiative

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Authors: Australian Infant Child Adolescent and Family Mental Health Association (AICAFMHA)

Year: 2012

Event: 2012 TheMHS Awards

Subject:

Type of resource: TheMHS Awards

Award state: SA

Award level: Gold

Award category: Special Achievement

Abstract: Over a million Australian children have at least one parent with a mental illness. A range of factors associated with families where a parent experiences mental illness can have a negative impact on a child’s development and wellbeing. The COPMI national initiative aims to foster better mental health outcomes for children of parents with a mental illness, reduce stigma and help friends, family and workers in a range of settings and identify and respond to the needs of these children and their families. This is achieved by developing information for parents, their partners, carers, family and friends to support these children and by providing training resources for workers to support families either individually or through community services and programs. COPMI resources are developed in consultation and under the guidance of people with a lived experience of parental mental illness, and leading researchers and service providers in the mental health field. Description of Facility/Organisation: AICAFMHA was formed by, and for, mental health workers and consumers of mental health services and their carers. The Association’s primary aim is to actively promote the mental health and wellbeing of infants, children, young people and their families. COPMI is being undertaken by AICAFMHA with funding provided by the Australian Government’s Department of Health and Ageing. The aim of COPMI is to promote better mental health outcomes for children of parents with a mental health problem or disorder. The COPMI team consists of a Manager, Workforce Development Officer, Consumer and Carer Participation Officer, Communications Coordinators and Project Support Officers. The team works with consumers, carers, children, academics and workers in the mental health and related sectors and engages the services of education, research and communications experts to develop information materials (for families and workers) and workforce education resources. COPMI’s pool of consumers and carers in Australia has 76 members.

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