Resources for Daughters and Sons Who Have a

Parent with a Mental Illness

Updated 6/26/08

Until recently, the focus has been on an adult daughter or son of a parent or parents with a mental illness. This is changing. So is the terminology from the adult child of the mentally ill parent to the child of a mentally ill parent.

Since well over 50% of people who have serious mental illness are parents, bringing this to the public's attention to the young sons and daughters is long overdue. Both the parents and the children need much support during these difficult times, not something that has been focused on before.

 

 

BOOKS – Written for Adult Family Members

 

 

Brown, Nina W. Children of the Self-Absorbed: A Grownup's Guide to Getting Over Narcissistic Parents. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publishers, Inc., 2001.

 

Donaldson-Pressman, Stephanie, Robert M. Pressman. The Narcissistic Family: Diagnosis and Treatment. San Francisco:  Josey-Bass Publishers, 1997.

 

Gunderson, John G. and Perry D., Ph.D. Hoffman. Understanding and Treating  Borderline Personality Disorder: A Guide for Professionals and Families

 

Johnson, J.T. (1988). Hidden victims: An eight-stage healing process for families and friends of the mentally ill. New York: Doubleday.

 

Lawson, Christine Ann  Ph.D. and Jason Aronson.  Understanding the Borderline Mother: Helping Her Children Transcend the Intense, Unpredictable, and Volatile Relationship

 

Marsh, D.T., & Dickens, R. (1997). Troubled journey: Coming to terms with the mental illness of a sibling or parent. New York: Penguin USA.

 

Miklowitz, D.J. (2002). The bipolar disorder survival guide: What you and your family need to know. New York: Guilford Press.

 

Miller, Alice. The Drama of the Gifted Child: The Search for the True Self.

This book could also have been named The Trauma of the Gifted Child. This sort of home environment often produces people with Borderline Personality Disorder.

 

Mondimore, F.M.M. (2006). Bipolar disorder: A guide for patients and families. 2nd ed. John Hopkins Press.

 

Mueser, K.T., & Gingerich, S. (2006). The complete family guide to schizophrenia: Helping your loved one get the most out of life. New York: Guilford Press.

 

Nathiel, S. (2007). Daughters of madness: Growing up and older with a mentally ill mother. Greenwood Publishing Group.

 

Porr, Valerie. Marsha M Linehan (forward), When Someone You Love Has  Borderline Personality Disorder: How to Repair the Relationship

 

Roth, Kimberlee, Surviving a Borderline Parent: How to Heal Your Childhood Wounds & Build Trust, Boundaries, and Self-Esteem

 

Tinman, Ozzie. One Way Ticket to Kansas: Caring about Someone with Borderline Personality Disorder and Finding a Healthy You

 

Torrey, E.F., & Knable, M.B. (2005). Surviving manic depression: A manual on bipolar disorder for patients, families and providers. Basic Books

 

Torrey, E.F. (2006). Surviving schizophrenia: A manual for families, patients and providers. (5th ed.) New York: Harper Collins.

 

Woolis, R. (2003). When someone you love has a mental illness: A handbook for family, friends, and caregivers. New York: JP Tarcher.

 

 

BOOKS for Adults – Memoirs

 

Braisfield, L. (2003). Nature lessons. St. Martin’s Press.

 

Brandon, D. (2000). In the shadow of madness. Troy, Michigan: Sky Blue Press.

 

Brown, M.J., & Roberts, D.P.  (2000). Growing up with a schizophrenic mother.  McFarland & Company.

 

Holley, T.E.  (1997). My mother’s keeper: A daughter’s memoir of growing up in the shadow of schizophrenia. New York: William Morrow & Co.

 

Holman, V. (2003). Rescuing Patty Hearst: Memories from a decade gone mad. Simon & Schuster.

 

Kotulski, T. (2006). Saving Millie: A daughter's story of surviving schizophrenia. Madelia, MN:  Extraordinary Voices Press.

 

Lachenmeyer, N. (2000). The outsider: A journey into my father’s struggle with madness. New York: Broadway Books.

 

Lyden, J. (1997). Daughter of the queen of Sheba. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

 

Ross, C., Balkind, R.G., & Nelson, G. (1996). Listen up: The lives of Quincy Jones. Warner Brothers. (also a movie)

 

Rowe, P., & Rowe, J. (2005). The best of times, the worst of times: Our family’s journey with bipolar. Allen & Unwin.

 

Sexton, L.G. (1995). Searching for mercy street: My journey back to my mother, Anne Sexton. Little Brown & Company.

 

 

BOOKS – Written for Parents

 

Beardslee, W. (2003). When a parent is depressed: How to protect your children from the effects of depression in the family.  Little, Brown & Company.

 

Beardslee, W. R. (2005). Out of the darkened room: Protecting the children and strengthening the family when a parent is depressed. DIANE Publishing Company.

 

Lawson, Christine Ann  Ph.D. and Jason Aronson.  Understanding the Borderline Mother: Helping Her Children Transcend the Intense, Unpredictable, and Volatile Relationship

 

Nicholson, J., Henry, A.D., Clayfield, J.C., & Phillips, S.M. (2001). Parenting well when you are depressed: A complete resource for maintaining a healthy family. New York: New Harbinger Publications.

 

Winkler, Kathy. Randi Kreger. Hope for Parents: Helping Your Borderline Son or Daughter Without Sacrificing Your Family or Yourself. 

 

 

BOOKS – Written for Elementary School Age Youth

 

Andrews, B. (2002). Why are you so sad?  A child’s book about parental depression. New York: Magination Press.

 

Campbell, B. (2003). Sometimes my mommy gets angry. New York: Penguin Young Readers Group.

 

Clarke, L. (2006). Wishing wellness: A workbook for children of parents with mental illness.  New York: Magination Press.

        

Fensham, E. (2005). Helicopter man. Bloomsbury USA (ages 5-12) [about a dad who has schizophrenia]

 

Kelly, Madeleine.  The Rainbow Angels by is a story to help explain bipolar disorder to young children

 

Lewandowski, L., & Trost, Shannon M.B. (2005). Darcy Daisy and the firefly festival program: Learning about bipolar disorder and community. Northville, MI: Ferne Press.]

 

Marchetta, M. (2006). Saving Francesca. Random House Children's Books.

 

Rashkin, Rachel MS. An Umbrella for Alex

 

             It tells the story of how a young boy learns to understand and cope with his mother’s BPD illness.

 

 

Sessions, D. (1994). My mom is different. New York: Sidran Press. (ages 4-8; about having a mom with multiple personality disorder)

 

Sobkiewicz, T (1994).  Our special Mom and Our special Dad. Children of Mentally Ill Parents, P.O. Box 7272, Pittsburg, PA 15213

 

Warner, S. (2001).  How to be a real person (in just one day).  Knopf Books for Young Readers (Ages 4-8)

 

 

Elementary School-Age Books on Parental Trauma / PTSD

 

Davis, D. (1984). Something is wrong at my house: A book about parents’ fighting. Parenting Press.

 

Kagan, R. (2003). Real life heroes: A life storybook for children. Haworth Press.

 

Mason, P. (1992). Why is Daddy like he is? A book for kids about PTSD. Patience Press.

 

 

BOOKS -  Written for Teenagers

 

Bellenir, K. (2006). Mental health information for teens: Health tips about mental health and mental illness, including facts about mental and emotional health, depression and other mood disorders, anxiety disorders, behavior disorders, self-injury, psychosis, schizophrenia, and more. Omnigraphics.

 

Fischer, J. M. (2004). An egg on three sticks. St Martin’s Press. (fictional account of a teenager girl whose mother who deals with psychotic depression)

 

Sherman, M.D., & Sherman, D.M. (2006). I’m not alone: A teen’s guide to living with a parent who has a mental illness. Edina, MN: Beaver’s Pond Press. 

 

Teenage-books on Parental Trauma / PTSD

Sherman, M.D., & Sherman, D.M. (2006). Finding my way: A teen’s guide to living with a parent who has experienced trauma.

Edina, MN: Beaver’s Pond  Press      

 

BOOKS – Written for Professionals (Academic issues)

 

Anthony, E., & Cohler, B. (Eds.) (1987). The invulnerable child. New York: Guilford Press.

 

Gopfert, M., Webster, J., & Seeman, M.V. (2004). Parental psychiatric disorder: Distressed parents and their families. Cambridge University Press.

 

Gunderson, John G. and Perry D., Ph.D. Hoffman. Understanding and Treating  Borderline Personality Disorder: A Guide for Professionals and Families

 

Hetherington, R., Baistow, K., Katz, I., Mesie, J., & Trowell. J. (2002). The welfare of children with mentally ill parents: Learning from inter-country comparisons. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

 

Marsh, D. T. (1992) Families and mental illness: New directions in professional practice. New York: Praeger

 

 

 

ARTICLES / BOOK CHAPTERS - Written for Professionals (Academic issues)

 

Ackerson, B.J. (2003) Parents with serious and persistent mental illness: Issues in assessment and services. Social Work, 48(2), 87-94.

 

Beardslee, W., Gladstone, T.R.G., Wright, E.J., & Cooper, A.B. (2003). A family-based approach to the prevention of depressive symptoms in children at risk: Evidence of parental and child change. Pediatrics, 112, 119-131.

 

Biebel, K., Nicholson, J., Geller, J, & Fisher, W. (2006). A national survey of state mental health authority programs and policies for clients who are parents: A decade later.

Psychiatric Quarterly, 77(2), 119-128.

 

Biebel, K., Nicholson, J., & Williams, V. (2004). The Responsiveness of State Mental Health Authorities to Parents with Mental Illness.  Administration and Policy in Mental Health, 32(1), 31-48.

 

Clark, G.N., Hornbrook, M., Lynch, F., Polen, M., Gale, J., Beardslee, W., O’Connor, E., & Seeley, J. (2001). A randomized trial of a group cognitive intervention for preventing depression in adolescent offspring of depressed parents. Archives of General Psychiatry, 58(12), 1127-1134.

 

Crosby, D. (1989). First person account: Growing up with a schizophrenic mother. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 15(3), 507-509.

 

Felsman, J.K., & Vaillant, G. (1987). Resilient children as adults: A 40 year study. In E.J. Anthony & B. Cohler (Eds.), The invulnerable child (pp. 289-314). New York: Guilford Press.

 

Fisher, L., Kokes, R., Cole, R., Perkins, P. & Wynne, L. (1987) Competent children at risk: A study of well-functioning offspring of disturbed parents. In E.J. Anthony & B. Cohler (Eds.), The invulnerable child (pp. 211-228). New York: Guilford Press.

 

Hendrick, V. & Daly, K (2000). Parental mental illness, In N. Halfon, E. Shulman, M. Hochstein, & M Shannon (Eds). Building Community Systems for Young Children. UCLA Center for Healthier Children, Families and Communities. Available at: http://www.healthychild.ucla.edu/publications/Documents/Parentalmental0600.pdf

 

Hinden, B.R., Biebel, K., & Nicholson, J. (2005). The Invisible Children's Project: Key Ingredients of an Intervention for Parents With Mental Illness.  Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 32(4), 393-408.

 

Hinden, B.R., Biebel, K., & Nicholson, J. (2006).  A Survey of Programs for Parents with Mental Illness and their Families: Identifying Common Elements to Build the Evidence Base.  Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research, 33(1), 21-38.

 

Joseph, J.G., Joshi, S.V, Lewin, A.B & Abrams, M. (1999). Characteristics and perceived needs of mothers with serious mental illness. Psychiatric Services, 50, 1357-1359.

 

Kauffman, C., Grunebaum, H., Cohler, B., & Gamer, E. (1979). Superkids: Competent children of psychotic mothers. American Journal of Psychiatry, 136, 1398-1402.

 

Lanquetot, R. (1984). First person account: Confessions of the daughter of a schizophrenic.  Schizophrenia Bulletin, 10(3), 467-471.

 

Lanquetot, R. (1988) First person account: On being daughter and mother. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 14(2), 337-341.

 

Mullick, M., Miller, L., & Jacobsen, T. (2001). Insight into mental illness and child maltreatment risk among mothers with major psychiatric disorders. Psychiatric Services, 52(4), 488-492.

 

N.A.M.I of California (1996). Offspring issue. The Journal. 7(3).

 

Nicholson, J., Biebel, K., Hinden, B., Henry, A.D., & Stier, L. (2001). Critical issues for parents with mental illness and their families. Center for Mental Health Services Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School.

 

Nicholson, J., Mason, M.W. & Calabresi, A.O. (1999).  Fathers with severe mental illness: Characteristics and comparisons.   American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 69(1), 134-141.

 

Nicholson, J., Sweeney, E.M. & Geller, J.L. (1998). Mothers with mental illness: I. The competing demands of parenting and living with mental illness.   Psychiatric Services, 49(5), 635-642.

 

Nicholson, J., Sweeney, E.M. & Geller, J.L. (1998). Mothers with mental illness: II. Family relationships and the context of parenting.   Psychiatric Services, 49(5), 643-649.

 

Riebschleger, J. (2004). Good days and bad days: The experiences of children of a parent with a psychiatric disability. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 28 (1), 25-31.

 

Schene, A., Wijngaarden, B.V., & Koeter, M.W.J. (1998). Family caregiving in schizophrenia: Domains and distress. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 24(4), 609-618.

 

WEBSITES

 

Children of Parents with a Mental Illness - Children Caring for Parents with Severe and Enduring Mental Illness, Evidence Paper no. 5 of the Young Carers Research Group, Centre for Child and Family Research, Loughborough University.

Findings of a two year study by the Young Carers Research Group (in partnership with Rethink, formerly National Schizophrenia Fellowship) which looks at the experiences and needs of children who care for parents with mental illness, their caring and filial relationships and the nature of professional interventions in these families.

 

COMIC - Children of Mentally Ill Consumers

 

COPMI: Children of Parents with a Mental Illness

 

National Network of Adult and Adolescent Children who have a Mentally Ill Parent/s – Australia

 

Helping Children Understand Mental Illness: A Resource For Parents And Guardians (A project of the Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania)

 

Supporting Families with Parental Mental Illness: A Community Education and Development Workshop Manual (British Columbia Schizophrenia Society)

 

Invisible Children’s Project

 

Parenting Well Project – Joanne Nicholson, PhD

 

NAMI - Daughters and Sons of Parents with Mental Illness

 

Psychological first aid (manual from the National child Traumatic Stress Network)

 

Helping children cope with the challenges of war and terrorism [manual for kids ages 7-12] By Annette M. LaGreca, Ph.D. et al

 

 

 

VIDEOS/MOVIES

 

Canvas (2006)  .

 

I love You Like Crazy: Being a Parent with Mental Illness by Mental Illness Education Project Videos,

 

Out of the Shadow (2006). Susan Smiley 

 

Tarnation (2003).

 

 

OUT OF PRINT Resources:

 

Books for Adults and Memoirs:

 

Hillman. J. (1997) Sweet mystery: A southern memoir of family alcoholism, mental illness, and recovery. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux.

 

Secunda, V. (1997). When madness comes home: Help and hope for the children, siblings, and partners of the mentally ill. New York: Hyperion.

 

Sheffield, A. (2005). Sorrow’s web: Overcoming the legacy of maternal depression. DIANE Publishing Company.

 

 

For Elementary School Youth:

 

Chaplan, R. (1991). Tell me a story, paint me the sun: When a girl feels ignored by her father. New York: Magination Press.

 

Denboer, H. (1993). Please don’t cry, Mom. Lerner Publishing Group.

 

Goldman, L. (1998). Bart speaks out: Breaking the silence on suicide.  Manson Western Corporation.

 

Hamilton, M. (1995). Sad days, glad days: A story about depression. Albert Whitman.

 

Laskin, P.L. & Moskowitz, A.A. (1991). Wish upon a star: A story for children with a parent who is mentally ill. New York: Magination Press.

 

Haugen, T. (1982). The night birds. Dell Publishing. (ages 9-11). (Norwegian boy deals with his dad’s psychiatric condition)

 

Pinkwater, D. (1989). Uncle Melvin. Simon & Schuster. (ages 5-8; about an uncle who has a mental illness and lives in a residential program)

 

Sanford, D. (1993). It won't last forever: A child's book about living with a depressed parent. Multnomah Publishers, Inc. (ages 5-11)

 

Wolitzer, H. (1978). Toby lived here. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux. (young boy goes to foster care during mom’s psychiatric admission)

 

 

For Teenagers:

 

Diner, S.H. (1989). Nothing to be ashamed of: Growing up with mental illness in your family. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books.

 

Foster, C. (1994). Out of the jungle: A survival guide with COMPASS. Dilligaf Publishing.

 

Johnson, J.T. (1989).Understanding mental illness: For teens who care about someone with a mental illness. Lerner Publishing.