Our Time
Supporting children of parents who have a mental illness
As many as one in three children have a parent with poor mental health. For many, growing up with a parent struggling with their mental health can be a difficult and overwhelming experience. These are the young people that Our Time works to help, providing support and understanding so they can go on to lead happy and fulfilling lives.
Our Time is the only UK charity dedicated to supporting children who are experiencing parental mental illness. From finding school challenging to undocumented caring responsibilities, the daily lives of many of these children is heavily impacted. Children exposed to parental mental illness are more than twice as likely to develop psychological problems and other poor mental health outcomes themselves.
The Cause
When life at home is unpredictable or troubling, it’s important for young people to have somewhere to go that’s safe and supportive. Within family workshops and school programmes, Our Time creates environments where children can ask questions, learn about their parent’s mental health difficulties and explore their own feelings, using games, activities and drama. They help these young people to realise they are not alone.
What They Do
Our Time is making a difference to thousands of families, helping parents to connect with their children, and helping children to feel safe and supported, through workshops, drama, and interventions in schools and healthcare settings. Their unique family workshops provide a safe and supportive space for children to openly discuss their parent’s mental health difficulties, for families to share their experiences, and for adults to connect with other adults. For many, these workshops will be the first time that children have been able to openly discuss their situation.
Our Time is active in many schools, educating teachers on how to recognise and support children experiencing parental mental illness, and extending this support into the community, at the school gates, and at other places where children are likely to meet adults.
– A story from Our Time –
Freddie*
Freddie* is 5 and lives with his mum, dad and younger sister. He enjoys school as well as Spiderman, football and watching musicals. Freddie’s mum has anxiety which causes her to have regular panic attacks and “jelly legs” where she feels her legs are going to give way.
Freddie has become increasingly aware of when his mum is struggling, and this has left Freddie worried that ‘mummy’s legs will be poorly again’. It also meant that his mum didn’t feel able to take him out to activities such as swimming.
Freddie’s mum is receiving support to try and help control her anxiety, while practical steps have been put in place to provide much needed reassurance for Freddie and his parents. Having plans in place means Freddie can do fun things with his mum, like swimming.
*Freddie’s name has been changed to protect privacy