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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.

Recommended links

This information was originally published on healthdirect - COPMI – Children of Parents with a Mental Illness.

Last reviewed: May 2022

Information from this partner

Found 19 results

Family & Friends - COPMI

Read more on COPMI website

Coping with the mental illness of a loved one - COPMI

About coping with the mental illness of a loved one - advice for family and friends.

Read more on COPMI website

For grandparents - COPMI

Advice for grandparents who are caring for a grandchild when their parent experiences mental illness. Tips and resources that can help when a grandkid comes to stay.

Read more on COPMI website

Helping the child - COPMI

Some simple things can support children if their parent experiences mental illness. How you can help children in this situation.

Read more on COPMI website

Helping the parent - COPMI

Helping your loved one to get help if they have a mental illness. Sources of professional help.

Read more on COPMI website

Translated materials - COPMI

Read more on COPMI website

Kids & Young People - COPMI

Read more on COPMI website

About mental illness - COPMI

These short videos can help you to understand your parent's mental illness and how it affects their behavior. What mental illness is, about different types of mental illnesses ('diagnoses'), whether your parent will get better, and how to look after yourself too.

Read more on COPMI website

Different types of mental illness - COPMI

Information about different types of mental illness (or 'diagnoses') and how parents with these illnesses may feel or behave.

Read more on COPMI website

Will my parent get better? - COPMI

About things that can help your parent to feel better, or recover from mental illness. Information about medication and what happens in hospital.

Read more on COPMI website

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