Children in Beardslee's family intervention: relieved by understanding of parental mental illness.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Beardslee's family intervention (FI), which is a family-based preventive method for children of mentally ill parents, has been implemented on a national level in Sweden. MATERIAL: Fourteen children and parents from nine families were interviewed about how the FI was for the children. Data were analysed by qualitative content analysis. DISCUSSION: A central finding was children's sense of relief and release from worry because of more knowledge and openness about the parent's illness in the family. CONCLUSION: The results indicating relief for the children are encouraging.