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COPMI – Children of Parents with a Mental Illness

COPMI promotes better mental health outcomes for children of parents with a mental illness. The COPMI national initiative was launched by the Minister for Health in 1999 to develop prevention strategies leading to better mental health outcomes for children of parents with a mental illness.

Vision

Their vision is to increase awareness and uptake of the COPMI guidelines and resources among relevant individuals and services, to promote the education and training of health and other relevant workforces, and to increase the availability of resource materials for children, family members and other parties affected by parental mental illness.

How COPMI can help

The COPMI national initiative develops information for parents, their family and friends in support of kids and young people. This information complements online training courses developed by COPMI for professionals to support families either individually or through community services and programs.

Their information is designed to foster better mental health outcomes for children of parents with a mental illness, reduce stigma associated with parental mental illness and help friends, family and workers in a range of settings identify and respond to the needs of the children and their families where parental mental illness exists.

COPMI resources are developed under the guidance of people who share the experience of living in families where parental mental illness is a part of family life, and of leading researchers and service providers in the mental health field. They also work with health care providers, community support groups, educators, service organisations and the media.

COPMI reports to the Emerging Minds Board who report on COPMI outcomes to the Australian Government's Department of Health. The COPMI initiative is funded by the Australian Government.

Recommended links

Last reviewed: May 2022

Information from this partner

Found 25 results

Different types of mental illness - COPMI

Information about different types of mental illness (or 'diagnoses') and how parents with these illnesses may feel or behave.

Read more on COPMI – Children of Parents with a Mental Illness website

Are you a young carer? - COPMI

About who 'young carers' are, and how they can get support across Australia. See the national and state-based carer organization websites.

Read more on COPMI – Children of Parents with a Mental Illness website

Recovery and parenting - COPMI

The word ‘recovery’ means different things to different people

Read more on COPMI – Children of Parents with a Mental Illness website

Why does my parent have a mental illness? - COPMI

About the causes of mental illness, and what to do if you're worried you may have a mental illness or mental health problems.

Read more on COPMI – Children of Parents with a Mental Illness website

Maintaining routines - COPMI

When you are feeling unwell or there are changes in the family, it can be comforting for children to have some of their regular routines continue as normal

Read more on COPMI – Children of Parents with a Mental Illness website

Parents - COPMI

Parents Parenting with a mental illness You are not alone, you can get through this

Read more on COPMI – Children of Parents with a Mental Illness website

What is bipolar disorder? #whatisbipolar - YouTube

This video clip (what is #bipolar?) has been created for young people (10 years and above) who have a parent with a #mentalillness. It has been designed to h...

Read more on COPMI – Children of Parents with a Mental Illness website

What is a personality disorder? #personalitydisorder - YouTube

This video clip '#whatispersonalitydisorder' has been created for young people (10 years and above) who have a parent with a #mentalillness. It has been desi...

Read more on COPMI – Children of Parents with a Mental Illness website

Helping my child and family - COPMI

Parents Helping my child and family Parenting with a mental illness Recovery and parenting Understanding your mental illness Your support networks Managing conflict For new mums For dads Helping my child and family Keeping connected when you’re unwell (or in hospital) Talking about mental illness with your child Videos to help you talk about depression/anxiety Starting the conversation Communicating with babies Talking to toddlers & pre-schoolers Talking to children of primary school age Talking to teenagers Your child’s support networks About ‘care plans’ Talking to your child’s school Maintaining routines Managing household chores Worried about your child’s mental health? Encouraging your teenager to get support Login to eLearning If you are a parent experiencing mental illness, there are lots of ways that you can help your child and family The pages in this section are offered as guides to what may be useful planning or talking tools for you and your family

Read more on COPMI – Children of Parents with a Mental Illness website

For new mums - COPMI

If you're pregnant or a new mum who experiences mental illness or mental health difficulties, this information is important.

Read more on COPMI – Children of Parents with a Mental Illness website

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