Growing up with a mentally ill parent: Identifying long-term consequences and needs for personalized mental health care in adulthood

Children of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI) are at elevated risk of developing mental and physical disorders in adulthood. However, there is a knowledge gap regarding the mental healthcare needs of adults with a COPMI background. This study identified long-term psychological and physical consequences of a COPMI background and intervention needs. Methods involved two rounds of assessment, using a mixed quantitative and qualitative approach with explorative thematic analysis. Participants were approached via a national nonprofit organization that supports family members and significant others of people with mental health-related problems. Results of round 1 (N = 59) showed that participants experienced interpersonal (97%), psychological (89.9%), and physical problems (89.1%) in adulthood. All participants stated that a COPMI background requires attention in mental healthcare. In round 2 (N = 35), participants identified the following needs: (1) screening for a COPMI background, (2) information about having a COPMI background and possible implications for mental and physical wellbeing in adulthood, (3) receiving suggestions on how to discuss the COPMI background during treatment, and (4) peer contact and finding stories of others’ experiences. These findings indicate that psychological wellbeing and quality of life can be improved by incorporating COPMI background assessments and personalized interventions in clinical care.