Children of parents with severe mental illness experience stigma and discrimination

March 15, 2018

“Kessy” who was diagnosed with Bipolar Affective Disorder had been in the mental hospital in Kampala for three months together with her three month old child, who was later taken to a foster home to be cared for. Her other three children ages 6, 8, and 10, were in the care of her cousin, together with other children in an extended family.

During an assessment meeting with the YouBelong team,“Kessy”, mentioned with a sense of despair, “I do not like watching my children being mistreated, yet I cannot defend them”. As we worked with “Kessy” and her family during the pre and post hospital discharge visits, the YouBelong team was astonished at the behavior we observed after spending some time with cousin’s family over a number of visits. Kessy’s children were always seated on the floor while other children were seated on chairs. Kessy’s children were regularly beaten and blamed for every wrong doing, even when caused by the other children in the home. We also learned that they do not go to school with the other children in the family.

We have noticed that in some families, children are victims of stigma and discrimination due to their parents’ severe mental illness. Serious consequences include constant feelings of shame and embarrassment, isolating themselves from other children, and assuming inappropriate levels of responsibility to take care of themselves. It affects their way of living, lowers their self-esteem, and breeds self-stigma.

In light of this, we work with families to diminish stigma and empower them to support children of parents with mental illness. These children have attachment issues and need to experience belonging in and to their family. Their physical, psychological and emotional growth and development is crucial to their mental wellbeing and must be addressed. This is a big part of the YouBelong role