Supporting Preschool Children and Families Living With Parental Mental Illness: The Experiences of the Early Childhood Workforce

Children living in families where a parent has a mental illness are prevalent in Australia. Moreover, because of their age, those aged 3 to 5 (preschool aged) and who live with parental mental illness are especially vulnerable to various adverse outcomes including the development of their own mental health issues. Early childhood services are opportune settings for prevention and early intervention that might support preschool children living with parental mental illness and their families. However, there is limited research exploring the experiences of preschool teachers and childcare providers. The purpose of the thesis was to explore the experiences of Australian childcare providers and preschool teachers who work with children aged 3 to 5 years and have a parent with a mental illness.