About Copmi (the children of parents with a mental illness national initiative)
Copmi (the Children of Parents with a Mental Illness national initiative) is an Australian organization that aims to provide mental health information and resources for parents, children, families, carers and health professionals who work with them. The organization was established in 1998 as a response to the growing need for support services for children whose parents have a mental illness.
The impact of parental mental illness on children can be significant. Children may experience feelings of confusion, fear, guilt and shame. They may also feel isolated and unsupported due to the stigma surrounding mental illness. Copmi recognizes these challenges and works towards providing practical support to help families cope with these issues.
One of the key objectives of Copmi is to raise awareness about parental mental illness among health professionals who work with families. The organization provides training programs for health professionals such as doctors, nurses, social workers and psychologists so that they can better understand the needs of families affected by parental mental illness.
Copmi also provides resources for parents themselves so that they can better understand their own condition and how it affects their children. These resources include fact sheets on various aspects of parenting with a mental illness such as managing symptoms during pregnancy or dealing with stigma from others.
For children themselves, Copmi has developed age-appropriate materials that help them understand what is happening when their parent has a mental illness. These materials include storybooks, videos and online games that are designed to be engaging while still providing important information about coping strategies.
In addition to these resources aimed at specific groups within the family unit, Copmi also provides general information about common types of mental illnesses such as depression or anxiety disorders. This information is available in multiple formats including online articles or downloadable brochures.
Overall, Copmi's mission is clear: To provide practical support for families affected by parental mental illness through education and awareness-raising initiatives aimed at both health professionals and members of the public alike. By doing so they hope to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness and improve outcomes for families affected by this condition.