By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
THE stark odds are that in every classroom, one in five children has a parent with mental illness.
Community health organisations Windermere Child and Family Services and EACH offer a support program that helps destigmatise mental health in primary schools in Melbourne’s south east.
EACH regional manager Lisa Gort said that the Supporting Kids in Primary Schools (SKIPS) program provides a “language” to understand and talk about the issue.
“If you’ve got a mum dying with cancer, the school community understands it,” Ms Gort said.
“But if mum or dad has mental health issues and you’re not getting to school on time, that’s a harder thing to understand.
“Sometimes we’re well physically and unwell mentally. The question is how we support parents and children in this situation.”
The program is an early-intervention model – working in classrooms, parent info sessions and workshops for teachers.
The topic is broached directly, demythologised by speakers who have “lived experience”.
It gives tools for schools and parents to support children and families affected by mental illness.
“Studies show where there’s a parent with a mental illness that there’s a high possibility that their child has a similar disposition.
“If there’s not that support there’s a high chance they may go on and have a mental issue of their own.”
The EACH program has so far been held in more than a dozen Casey-Cardinia primary schools including Cranbourne Park, Cranbourne West, Rangebank and Garfield.
The program, which receives no government funding, is limited to two schools at a time.
Details from EACH on 8781 9500.
