@article{ref1,
title="Living With a Mentally Ill Parent: Exploring Adolescents' Experiences and Perspectives",
journal="Qualitative health research",
year="2012",
author="Trondsen, Marianne V.",
volume="22",
number="2",
pages="174-188",
abstract="Although a considerable body of research has described the implications of parental mental illness, the perspectives of children and adolescents have rarely been addressed. In this article, I explore adolescents' experiences in everyday life, based on an action-oriented study of a Norwegian online self-help group for adolescents (aged 15 to 18) with mentally ill parents. The analysis was conducted through participant observation of the group for 2 years.The adolescents experienced a variety of difficult challenges related to their parent's mental illness: lack of information and openness; unpredictability and instability; fear; loneliness; and loss and sorrow. However, they also discussed strategies for active management of the challenges arising from the family situation. I argue that these adolescents can be understood as vulnerable as well as active participants in managing their everyday lives. I emphasize the importance of including perspectives of children and adolescents in further research so as to improve health care for families with parental mental illness.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1049-7323",
doi="10.1177/1049732311420736",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1049732311420736"
}