Supporting Parents Healthy Children
Department: Mental HealthSupporting Parents Healthy Children

Living Well

Living Well is a resource for family, whānau and friends of people using alcohol and other drugs. It provides suggestions, strategies and ideas about how families, whānau and friends can look after themselves during difficult times. 

The best for me and my baby

This booklet is for women with a mental health problem or mental illness (and their partners) who are thinking about having a baby, are new parents or are about to have a baby. The booklet contains helpful ideas you can use from the time you are thinking of having a baby up to when your child is two – three years old.

Piecing the puzzle together

This booklet is for people living with a mental health problem or mental illness, whose children are aged between 2 and 7 years. It’s also for partners, family and friends. It contains helpful ideas about being the best parent you can when you’re not as well as you’d like to be and ways to support your child’s development during their special early years.

Family Talk

Tips and information for families where a parent has a mental health problem or disorder.

These booklets were produced in Australia and include contact numbers and helplines based in Australia. You can find some of our local contacts here.

Plan for Caring for Children

This plan is for parents to record their wishes regarding supports for their child/ren should the parent need a period of time in a residential/rehabilitation/inpatient service in the future.

Talking with your child about mental health and addiction issues

This information sheet provides advice and suggestions for parents for talking with their child/ren about the parent’s mental health or addiction issue

Parenting Through Challenging Times

Parenting through challenging times aims to support parents or carers to talk to their children/tamariki in an age appropriate way about challenges that might be occurring in the family and whānau; and build healthy strong relationships with their children/tamariki.

The booklet also includes four stories from parents who experience mental health and/or addiction challenges, and how they deal with these alongside parenting. It also provides a range of further support options so parents can access further help if required.

Tipsheet ‘Baby’ – Connecting with your baby when you are experiencing a mental health issue

This resource helps you to connect with your baby when you are experiencing mental health challenges so that they feel secure and nurtured.  It steps you through:

• Understanding your feelings and behaviours
• Understanding what your baby notices and experiences
• Communicating and connecting with your baby

Tipsheet ‘Toddler’ – Communicating with toddlers when you are experiencing a mental health issues

This resource will help you to connect with your toddler or young child when you are experiencing a mental health issue so they feel secure and nurtured. It steps you through:

• Understanding your feelings and behaviours
• Thinking about what your toddler or young child notices and experiences
• Communicating with your toddler

Tipsheet ‘Primary School Aged Children’ – Talking with primary school aged children about mental health issues

This resource helps you to prepare for conversations about your mental health with your child so that they have a better understanding of what is happening. It steps you through:

• Understanding your feelings and behaviours
• Understanding what your child notices and experiences
• Preparing to talk with your child.

Tipsheet ‘Teenager’ – Talking with teenagers about mental health issues

This resource helps you to prepare for conversations about your mental health with your teenager so that they have a better understanding of what is happening. It steps you through:

• Understanding your thoughts, feelings and behaviours
• Understanding what your teenager notices and experiences
• Preparing to talk to your teenager

How can I help my child – A guide

This guide has been prepared for parents who experience mental health issues.

It is intended to give you time to think about being a parent living with mental health issues and to help you find practical ways to strengthen the social and emotional wellbeing of your child and family or whānau.  Originally developed by Emerging Minds in Australia this guide has been adapted for New Zealand families and whānau.  

Growing Stronger together

Growing Stronger Together is a fun activity book for children aged 5-12 years old.

The book is aimed at children whose parents are either physically or mentally ill and is designed to help children understand illness.

When your parent has a mental illness 

Ruby’s Dad (with guidelines for parents)