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Attitudes to visits by children to parents hospitalised with acute psychiatric illness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Rory O'Shea ,
Declan Sheerin ,
Denise Canavan  and
Vincent Russell
Rory O'Shea
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Park House, Nursery Road, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE29 3RJ, England
Declan Sheerin
Affiliation:
Child and Family Centre, Dublin Road, Drogheda, Co Louth, Ireland
Denise Canavan
Affiliation:
Child and Family Mental Health Service, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh, Scotland
Vincent Russell
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Cavan General Hospital, Cavan, Co Cavan, Ireland
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Abstract

Background: There is no published research on attitudes of psychiatrists towards children visiting parents who are acutely-unwell and inpatients in psychiatric hospitals. Nor is there information on facilities available for such visits.

Objectives: (I) To assess the attitudes of Irish psychiatrists towards children visiting. (II) To determine the availability of child-friendly facilities within admission units.

Method: A questionnaire was posted to every consultant psychiatrist accepting acute adult admissions in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Results: The response rate was 69%. Ninty-seven per cent were in favour of children visiting. Almost half felt that decisions on visits should depend on the particular situation, considering the child, parent, ward, etc. However, only 11% of units had a room/area designated for children visiting. 90% had no facilities they considered child-friendly on their unit. A majority felt that arrangements for children visiting were inadequate.

Conclusions: This topic is of interest to psychiatrists, and can be contentious, particularly when considering supervision of, and legal responsibility for, children visiting. Guidance on these issues would aid psychiatrists and hospital management. Poor facilities and infrequent visits may be a factor in the early development of stigma towards mental illness. Further research, improvements in facilities and staff training in liaison with children are needed.

Keywords

AttitudesChildPsychiatric hospitalsPsychiatristsStigmatisationStereotypingVisitors
Type
Original Papers
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 21 , Issue 2 , June 2004 , pp. 43 - 47
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2004

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