Mental health :
A new problem or one spanning generations ?
Is mental health an issue relating to an individual only or do the effects thereof stretch further ? The specialists of Evexia Psychiatric Day Hospital discuss this phenomenon .
In the psychiatric industry , mental health services are typically reactive . The focus is either on managing mental health crises or treating an individual ’ s mental health challenges . While both are important , if this is their only focus , critical opportunities for prevention and early intervention are missed to stop the cycle of mental illness in the family structures .
Research , published in A Scoping Review in 2020 , has found that 23 % of children have at least one parent who has experienced mental illness . Additionally , 36 % of children attending child mental health services have a parent with a mental illness . Children whose parents have a mental illness are up to three times more likely to develop their own mental health challenges later in life . Yet no action is taken until these children present with their own social or mental health challenges .
While genetics play a vital role in passing mental illness from parents to children , they are not the only factors to be considered . These include , but are not limited to , environmental and socioeconomic factors that include parenting competence , the level of illness disability and other family and social supports and stressors .
The current practice relies on models that address individual mental health situations directly . However , if we wish to proactively improve overall mental health statistics in South Africa , a more inclusive approach and treatment model will be needed to help identify and treat family structures and provide appropriate care . By including a family-friendly approach in mental health treatment plans , child and family mental health can be monitored by identifying parenting styles , status and relationships of clients entering mental health
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