Conference: “Buoys in emotional storms“

It was extremely interesting to hear about different projects on the topic and how various people work on improving the future of children of a parent with a mental illness. It was especially helpful to hear from the variety of guests, which enabled a holistic view on the topic and brought different viewpoints to the discussion. People who work with children in their profession, parents who act as a foster family to children, researchers, and also people with lived-experience met in Graz to exchange knowledge and thoughts.

Presenters stressed the importance of considering the informal and low-threshold support for children and avoiding too much work in silos. We agree, and are pleased our approach to collaborative practice and child-focused support aligns to this. We are pleased to be part of the conversation and happy that the topic is receiving attention in other areas in Austria, while we understand the context and opportunities within Tyrol. Particularly important was to think about the specific symptoms the parent might be experiencing and how they could impact upon the child. They argued that support should be personalized and on a need’s basis. This should consider the diagnosis of the parent, but they argued that too many programs are only offered for certain conditions, or one approach for all situations. This supports our approach of working with the child and their informal and formal network to consider supports that would be helpful for them, on a case by case basis.

We enjoyed the positive approach in supporting mental health: from insights into communications (how parents could talk to their child about it for example), to resilience (how some children develop surprisingly well under tough circumstances) and also how to reduce stigma on mental health and illness (for example by talking more about it in school and kindergarten).

We are looking forward to hearing more on the topic from different perspectives and fields. Exchanging thoughts and experiences seems like a great approach to support each other in improving children’s situation in the future.

For a closer look at the program click here!
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