COPMI – Children of Parents with a Mental Illness
COPMI promotes better mental health outcomes for children of parents with a mental illness. The COPMI national initiative was launched by the Minister for Health in 1999 to develop prevention strategies leading to better mental health outcomes for children of parents with a mental illness.
Vision
Their vision is to increase awareness and uptake of the COPMI guidelines and resources among relevant individuals and services, to promote the education and training of health and other relevant workforces, and to increase the availability of resource materials for children, family members and other parties affected by parental mental illness.
How COPMI can help
The COPMI national initiative develops information for parents, their family and friends in support of kids and young people. This information complements online training courses developed by COPMI for professionals to support families either individually or through community services and programs.
Their information is designed to foster better mental health outcomes for children of parents with a mental illness, reduce stigma associated with parental mental illness and help friends, family and workers in a range of settings identify and respond to the needs of the children and their families where parental mental illness exists.
COPMI resources are developed under the guidance of people who share the experience of living in families where parental mental illness is a part of family life, and of leading researchers and service providers in the mental health field. They also work with health care providers, community support groups, educators, service organisations and the media.
COPMI reports to the Emerging Minds Board who report on COPMI outcomes to the Australian Government's Department of Health. The COPMI initiative is funded by the Australian Government.