HealthInfo Canterbury
Children of parents with a mental illness or addiction
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 GP to refer you.
Mental illness
Caroline Reid Family Support Service (Stepping Stone Trust)
For tamariki (children) this offers one-to-one support, peer support, activities, 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 leaflet gives more details. Ask your GP to refer you to this service.
Phone: (03) 338‑6390
Email: csw@stepstone.org.nz
Website: www.stepstone.org.nz/our-services (scroll to the bottom of the page)
Stand Children Services (Tū Māia Whānau)
Stand is a service for tamariki that offers home- and school-based social services, therapy, education, and even the chance to have a few adventures. Ask your GP, 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.
Phone: (03) 332‑2541
Email: christchurch@standforchildren.org.nz
Website: www.standforchildren.org.nz
Yellow Brick Road
Yellow Brick Road provides free support for whānau families and those close to people with a mental illness. It also has a Children Understanding Mental Illness group, which helps tamariki make sense of living with a parent who is mentally unwell. This leaflet has information to help tamariki understand mental illness.
Phone: (03) 366‑9284 or 0800‑876‑682
Addiction
Familial Trust
Familial Trust is specially for tamariki children 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.
Phone: (03) 981‑1093
Email: info@familialtrust.org
Website: www.familialtrust.org
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.
Phone: (03) 329‑9832
Email: info@cholmondeley.org.nz
Website: cholmondeley.org.nz
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.
Phone: (03) 379‑8001
Email: tari@pw.maori.nz
Website: www.pw.maori.nz
Helplines
0800 What's Up, phone 0800‑942‑8787, website www.whatsup.co.nz.
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.
- About care plans
- 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 November 2021.
See also:
Review key: HICOP-162716
