Editorial: Parents with mental and/or substance use disorders and their children, volume III

Jean Lilian Paul, Joanne Nicholson, Anja Wittkowski, Geneviève Piché

33 contributions from 13 countries shed light on the situation of families with mentally ill or addicted parents. They provide insights into the reality of life and the needs of affected families, show progress in family-focused interventions, innovative measurement methods and in dealing with trauma, attachment and sustainability issues. In addition, they address systemic challenges and previously underrepresented perspectives, for example of fathers, children, people with disabilities and cultural minorities.

Perinatal and infant mental health care in Austria

Zechmeister-Koss Ingrid, Hörtnagl Christine, Astrid Lampe, Jean Lilian Paul

Perinatal mental illness (PMI) affects one in five mothers and one in ten fathers. And while there is clear evidence of potentially harmful effects on the health of parents and children, there are still major gaps in coverage in this area. In the following paper, the support services offered with regard to perinatal mental illnesses in Austria are analysed and presented in detail.

Deconstructing stigmatising narratives: a qualitative analysis of contrast devices in interviews with mothers with a mental illness

Schamschula Monika, Paul Jean Lillian

As part of an empirical study, it was investigated how mothers with mental illnesses position themselves in interviews (based on the Village Project), in particular through the use of contrast agents as a strategy to cope with stigmatizing discourses (distancing from derogatory terms). The aim is to contribute to  deepening the understanding of stigmatization in the context of motherhood and mental health and  to emphasize the importance of gender-specific dynamics in research.

Towards effective screening for paternal perinatal mental illness: a meta-review of instruments and research gaps

Schöch Philipp, Hölzle Laura, Lampe Astrid, Hörtnagl Christine, Zechmeister-Koss Ingrid, Buchheim Anna, Paul Jean Lillian

Despite increasing awareness of men’s mental health during the perinatal period, perinatal mental illness in fathers (PPMI) is often not recognized. Stigma and men’s reluctance to seek help exacerbate this problem. Neglecting the mental health of new fathers not only increases their risk of mental illness of their own, but also has a profound and long-term impact on their families. This meta-review systematically identifies screening tools of PPMI symptoms, assesses their psychometric characteristics and applicability, and identifies gaps and limitations.

Identifying and synthesizing components of perinatal mental health peer support – a systematic review

Hölzle Laura, Schöch Philipp, Hörtnagl Christine, Buchheim Anna, Lampe Astrid, Zechmeister-Koss Ingrid, Paul Jean Lillian

Peer support is recommended for perinatal mental illnesses in prevention and therapy. Nevertheless, the specific impact factors of this type of intervention are not yet fully understood. The aim of this review was to identify peer support programmes in the perinatal period and to analyse their components. The resulting findings are intended to facilitate the future planning and implementation of peer support programmes.