Abstract
When a parent is less able to meet their children’s needs due to a severe and enduring mental health problem other adult family members often help with childcare. We present a Grounded Theory of how children’s family caregivers construct meaning about the parental mental health problem and communicate about it with children. Nineteen caregivers participated in qualitative interviews. Each supported at least one related child aged 4-17 with a parent with mental health problems. We found that caregivers engaged in a core social process of providing protection in uncertainty. This comprised three categories: shaping the interactional space, communicating through the developmental process, and engendering a sense of safety. Caregivers appeared to act from a key social positioning of developing a caregiver identity. The findings implicate family-focused provision of mental health and social care. Clinical recommendations are made for whole family interventions and the role of marital and family therapists.
| Original language | English |
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| Journal | Journal of Marital and Family Therapy |
| Publication status | Accepted/In press - 7 Aug 2023 |