When mental illness strikes a family, it does not only affect the person who is ill. It also affects the children—often silently—and this can have major consequences. A new one-year project from SIND Rådgivning aims to improve the well-being of children growing up in families with mental illness.

"This donation means a lot to us and to our ability to offer a stable place where people can seek support in relation to mental illness," says Lars Munk, psychologist and advisor at SIND Rådgivning.

SIND's counseling services are free for families and are largely funded through grants and fundraising. Donations like this are therefore crucial in ensuring that vulnerable children and their parents can get help in time.

"The fact that so many children grow up in families with mental illness demonstrates a significant need for support and counseling. Therefore, I am pleased that Sol og Strand and Kjeld Sol og Strand Foundation can assist some of these children," says Margit Andersen, co-founder Sol og Strand the foundation.

When a parent or sibling becomes mentally ill, it often leads to major changes in everyday life—changes in family roles, concerns, and in many cases, an impact on the family's financial situation.

"Many children take on responsibilities that are not theirs. They try to protect their parents and don't always talk to anyone about what they are experiencing. That's why it's crucial that we create safe spaces where there is room for questions, concerns, and difficult emotions," says Lars Munk.

The project is aimed at children aged 8–14 from Aarhus Municipality. The purpose is to create a community where children can meet peers in the same situation, learn about mental illness, and find new ways to cope with an everyday life marked by unpredictability.

The goal is to create a forum where children can see themselves reflected in each other and where they feel that there are no taboo subjects. Among other things, we talk about how mental illness can manifest itself, what feelings it can cause, and what networks children can turn to for support—this could be their soccer coach or their grandparents. The most important thing is that they don't feel alone, but that they have someone to share their concerns with, says Lars Munk.

The project includes three children's groups, parent groups, family discussions, and individual discussions and counseling sessions. Parents participate alongside the children's groups so that the whole family can develop a common language and a greater understanding of the challenges that mental illness can bring.

"We place great emphasis on openness in communication—that there is nothing that cannot be discussed. Our experience is that it is very important for parents that their children have the opportunity to express their feelings. This makes it easier to talk together at home afterwards, because the family has a common standpoint," says Lars Munk.

In Denmark, around 310,000 children live with a parent who has a mental illness. Many of them bear a responsibility they should never have had – and up to 70 percent receive no help.

FACTS ABOUT THE PROJECT

Target group: Children aged 8–14 in families with mental illness and their parents
• Expected number of participants: approx. 27 children and around 40 parents
• Initiatives: Children's groups, parent groups, family discussions, and individual courses
• Project period: 1 year
• All services are free of charge