BEING SEEN AND HEARD - THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN WITH MENTAL ILLNESSES

Dr Alan Cooklin, Royal College of Psychiatrists, £35.25, from www.rcpsych.ac.uk/publications

STAR RATING 5/5

This hour-long video by the Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust looks at the main issues for children and young people when a parent is affected by mental illness. It also offers advice from the children's point of view, write Yashi Shah and Judy Jones.

The first part explores children's perspectives on living with a mentally ill parent and the different professional responses to their concerns.

The second finds practical ways of engaging children and their parents through drama and other creative means.

It highlights a gap in services, raising not only the issue of how we work with parents, but also how we listen to children.

It shows that in a safe and sympathetic setting, children are able to talk honestly and powerfully about their experiences and, most importantly, give their views of what they require from the professionals and services.

It is important that both adult mental health services and children's services watch this together in order to share expertise and plan jointly for the future so that we truly hear the voices of these children.

Yashi Shah is service unit manager, Brent children's services; and Judy Jones is lead social worker, Brent mental health services