HealthInfo Waitaha Canterbury

Children of parents with a mental illness or addiction

Ngā tamariki a ngā mātua me ngā matenga ā-hinengaro, te waranga rānei

Growing up with a parent who has a mental illness or addiction can be confusing. Sometimes it can be embarrassing. It can feel like no one understands what your life is like and there is no one you can talk to about it. But there are people and organisations that can help you.

If you, or a tamaiti (child) you know, needs help to cope with a whānau (family) affected by mental illness or addiction, you can contact these organisations or ask your general practice team to refer you.

Mental illness

Caroline Reid Family Support Service (Stepping Stone Trust)

For tamariki (children) the Caroline Reid Family Support Service offers one-to-one support and peer support. It also has activities and camps as well as support for parents. It has a special group called Children Understanding Mental Illness. This helps kids make sense of living with a parent who is mentally unwell, while enjoying fun activities with tamariki of a similar age. This pamphlet gives more details. Ask your general practice team to refer you to this service.

Stand Tū Māia

Stand Tū Māia is a service for tamariki. It offers home- and school-based social services, therapy, education and even the chance to have a few adventures. Ask your general practice team, teacher or social worker to refer you to this service. It also offers KidzaCool Adventures holiday programmes for tamariki in foster care or being cared for by someone other than their parents.

Yellow Brick Road

Yellow Brick Road provides free support for whānau and those close to people with a mental illness. It also has a Children Understanding Mental Illness group. The group helps tamariki make sense of living with a parent who is mentally unwell. This leaflet has information to help tamariki understand mental illness.

Addiction

Familial Trust

Familial Trust is specially for tamariki who have a parent with an addiction. It offers one-on-one support, counsellors, group activities and education programmes. See their website for details of their programmes.

Having a break (respite care)

Cholmondeley

Cholmondeley gives tamariki aged 5 to 12 years the opportunity to have a breather from their whānau when things get really hard. It provides a safe, fun place to stay while everyone has a break.

Kaupapa Māori

Purapura Whetu Trust

Purapura Whetu Trust takes a uniquely Māori perspective in working with people affected by mental illness. Some of its services are just for tamariki.

Helplines

0800 What's Up, phone 0800‑942‑8787.

  HealthInfo recommends the following pages

• Children of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI Australia)
  • About care plans

    Create a practical plan for when a parent's mental illness gets worse.

  • Information for kids and young people

    Videos and easy-to-read information for tamariki and young people.

  • Information for parents

    Resources to help people with a mental illness be great parents.

• Ministry of Health – Supporting Parents Healthy Children

  Information about the national Supporting Parents Healthy Children guidelines.

• Skylight

  The information for tamariki includes resources for tamariki of parents with a mental illness.

• Ruby's Dad

  A story for tamariki aged 6 to 11 about having a parent with a drinking problem. The link opens an e-book.

Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed January 2025.

Sources

Page reference: 162716

Review key: HICOP-162716