Challenges of parenting for children with mental health difficulties

U suvremeno doba roditeljske funkcije sve su složenije i zahtjevnije. Promjene koje se događaju u društvu i suvremenoj obitelji neminovno utječu i na roditeljstvo. Javljaju se pitanja poput onih kada i na koji način pomoći roditeljima kako bi svoju roditeljsku funkciju obavljali u skladu s društvenim očekivanjima, a još važnije, u skladu s djetetovom dobrobiti. To se osobito odnosi na roditelje djece s teškoćama u mentalnom zdravlju koji se suočavaju s brojnim izazovima. Stoga se u radu nudi pregled raznovrsnih programa pomoći, mjera i intervencija u zaštiti mentalnog zdravlja djece i unapređenja roditeljskih ponašanja i odgojnih postupaka, kao i prikaz prepreka i izazova s kojima se roditelji djece s teškoćama mentalnog zdravlja nerijetko suočavaju. U pronalasku najboljih mjera i programa za pomoć roditeljima najprije je važno razumjeti pozadinu nastanka i razvoja teškoća u mentalnom zdravlju djece, razmotriti sve dimenzije roditeljstva i prikazati ulogu socijalnih radnika u pružanju potpore i pomoći roditeljima.In modern times, parental functions are becoming more complex and demanding. Changes that occur in society and the contemporary family have an inevitable effect on parenting. Questions such as when and how to help parents to perform their parental function in accordance with social expectations, and more importantly, in accordance with the child's welfare, are being discussed. This is particularly important for parents of children with mental health problems who face many challenges. Therefore, the paper provides an overview of various programs of assistance, measures and interventions in the protection of children's mental health and improvement of parental behavior and educational procedures, as well as the presentation of obstacles and challenges faced by parents of children with mental health problems. In finding the best measures and programs for helping parents, it is important to understand the background of the emergence and development of mental health problems in children, to consider all dimensions of parenting and to show the role of social workers in providing support and assistance to their parents