DESIGN

Qualitative study using semistructured, indepth interviews.

SETTING

UK.

PARTICIPANTS

25 parents (18 mothers, 7 fathers) of 18 young people (13–16 y of age) with mental health problems. All families were white and had various socioeconomic backgrounds.

METHODS

Parents were interviewed about the following topics: the nature of their child’s problem; relationships with health professionals; implications for their lifestyle, health, employment, and education; impact on the family; and coping. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and analysed qualitatively using an interpretive inductive approach.

MAIN FINDINGS

Parental deskilling:(1) Not being listened to by the medical profession. Parents felt their role was challenged because they were unfamiliar with mental health problems and had to rely on experts for explanations. When they sought help to overcome their inexperience, it was not always forthcoming, which led to feelings of isolation, abandonment, and self doubt. Their confidence was undermined when they were accused of overreacting to what was considered normal adolescent changes. (2) Helpless parenting. Parents had to negotiate with health professionals in initial medical encounters, which was often distressing. They felt helpless and frustrated by the lack of progress. The information they received was considered a useful start but inadequate for the practicalities of continuing to care for their children. (3) Being excluded from care. Health professionals took over some of the caring responsibilities that were previously done by parents, which left them feeling isolated. When young people were ⩾16 years of age, parents’ roles were further limited, and they were formally excluded from decision making. Parents were frustrated because their children’s mental health problems meant that their children did not recognise when they needed help. Parents’ concerns were exacerbated when children were admitted to hospital, especially if they were admitted to adult wards. (4) Parental causal responsibility. Parents often felt responsible for their children’s conditions. Their parental skills came under self scrutiny as well as scrutiny by the medical profession. Guilt was expressed in the early stages of the illness. Parents often felt judged by health professionals, and they questioned their own ability to parent.

Parental reskilling: (1) Critiquing psychiatric knowledge and practice. Although parents sought professional help, they were critical of the medical profession and challenged the expert status of psychiatric knowledge. They critiqued the difficulty of getting a clear diagnosis and effective treatment for their children. Their helplessness led them to acquire knowledge and to begin to reskill themselves. (2) Acquiring knowledge. Parents independently sought information to supplement the information given by healthcare professionals. They became more aware of information about the illness. Although parents felt able to challenge health professionals over general issues, they deemed that specific matters (eg, medication) were beyond their area of knowledge. (3) Renegotiating the parental caregiving role. Parents found ways to accept and integrate their children’s conditions in their daily lives. Sometimes, though, they used phrases such as “get on with it” to fill in a gap or to minimise the emotional impact of their narrative. Parents also renegotiated care roles with their children and health professionals so that they could maintain some control and have access to information about their children’s care.

CONCLUSIONS

Parents of young people with mental health problems found that their caregiving role changed through interactions with health professionals. Their lack of knowledge and inexperience left them feeling isolated and helpless. By acquiring knowledge and renegotiating the parental caregiving role, parents were able to reskill themselves.