Depression

I love this video and the book. It explains depression so simply and yet effectively. Both domestic violence and family breakdown can result in depression. You are likely to get sleep problems as well  If you recognise any of the symptoms in the video please get help. If you had a physical health problem you would.

Children especially those in the care system can also suffer from depression.

Could Family court cause PTSD

 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder 

Family breakdown is up at the top of the list alongside bereavement  on major causes of stress.The court process , especially if it involves Children's Services does not lessen this stress one iota. It would be completely normal to feel stressed at this time but the feelings should lessen over time. If they persist could it be post traumatic stress disorder, commonly shortened to PTSD?

 Common causes of PTSD include:

• War
• Major disaster
• Rape,emotional or physical abuse
• A threatening, uncontrollable situation
• A serious accident

Basically speaking any situation where a person feels very out of control  , their lives or loved ones were in danger or they feel hopeless. 

The trauma could be a single event or a series of events taking place over months or years. It can affect adults or children

Symptoms

One of the most common symptoms of PTSD is
having repeated and intrusive distressing memories
of the event. There may also be a feeling of
reliving (or ‘re-experiencing’) the event through
‘flashbacks’ or nightmares, which can be very
distressing .
Some PTSD sufferers will avoid trigger situations and will also try not to think about the event, others will over think and relive the event constantly. Some will forget significant parts of the event.

PTSD causes a mixed bag of emotions, highs ,lows,anger,guilt,shame . The "what if's and "they should have" or "I should have" and "why me's" will also dominate the mind at times.

It would also be normal to be anxious and irritable and suffer sleep problems as well.

Depression and anxiety can also develop. There may be an increased tendency to self medicate with alcohol or recreational drugs. 

So can going through family court cause PTSD?

In my opinion yes. Family breakdown ticks the PTSD boxes, it is an out of control situation,it threatens safety of loved ones and it causes major trauma. In the case of care proceedings, I would suspect that a considerable percentage of  children and parents may already have PTSD before hand due to domestic violence or living in chaotic situations. The current system is going to exacerbate rather than help any symptoms.Is this good for the long term welfare of the child? 

Welfare Check List . A quick guide

The Welfare Check list - section 1 Children Act 1989
When a court considers any question relating to the upbringing of a child under the Children Act 1989 it must have regard to the welfare check list set out in Section 1 of that Act. Among the things the court must consider are:
a) The ascertainable wishes and feelings of the child concerned (considered in light of his age and understanding);
b) His physical, emotional and/or educational needs;
c) The likely effect on him of any change in his circumstances;
d) His age, sex, background and any characteristics of his, which the court considers relevant;
e) Any harm which he has suffered or is at risk of suffering;
f) How capable each of his parents and any other person in relation to whom the court considers the question to be relevant, is of meeting his needs;
g) The range of powers available to the court under the Children Act 1989 in the proceedings in question.
For all proceedings under the Children Act 1989 when the court considers a question of the child's upbringing the child's welfare is the court's paramount consideration.
 The most important consideration is your child’s welfare. This is about trying to decide, sometimes in difficult circumstances, what is in your child’s best interests.
The law makes it clear that the court must only make an order if doing that is better for your child than making no order at all.
The court must also avoid any delay, where possible. It is generally agreed that delaying a decision is not usually good for children and can sometimes cause them harm. The court should take account of any impact their timetable might have on your child’s welfare and development. 

Other Considerations

Your child’s wishes and feelings
This does not mean that the court will do whatever your child says they want. But if your child is old enough to understand the questions they are asked and the court (with the help of a Family Court Advisor if necessary ) can find out what they think, then it will consider their wishes. The court will want to know that your child’s wishes and feelings are their own and have not been influenced by either of their parents or other relatives. The court will pay more attention to the wishes and feelings of a child the older they are.  Increasingly, the court may want to meet your child, or get a letter from them giving their views. The President of the Family Division said in  Annual Dinner of the Family Law Bar Association on Friday 27 February 2015 at the Middle Temple that children need to be more visible in the family justice system . Given this hopefully  even more account will be given to children's views in future.

 http://www.familylaw.co.uk/news_and_comment/the-president-s-address-at-the-annual-dinner-of-the-family-law-bar-association#.VPRMAHysVPc

Your child’s physical, emotional and educational needs 

This includes your child’s need for  non conditional love and affection. Are the children attending and thriving at school or nursery? Do they have a reasonable mixed diet? Is their home safe and clean? Do they have opportunities to socialise with their peers or are they isolated. It also includes things that can affect your child’s emotional well being. So if, for example, your proposals involve separating one child from siblings, the court will consider how this will impact on their emotional needs. If you and your ex argue  in front of your children, that will be taken into account
The likely effect of any change in circumstances on your child
Change can be disruptive for children so the court will want to think about the effect on your child of any change you are suggesting, for example, in where they live or who they live or spend time with. Does the benefit of any change outweigh any possible negative effects?

The age, sex, background and any relevant characteristics of your childsuch as  any cultural, religious or language needs as well as any disabilities.

Weight needs to be given to the long term welfare of a child's sense of who they are and how they fit in to a particular community.

Any harm your child has suffered or is at risk of suffering

Harm can mean ill treatment or damage to your child’s health or development, the impact caused by them seeing or hearing domestic violence or abuse or by preventing contact without a good reason. Any drug ,gambling or alcohol addiction and the consequent impact on the children. Do you have needs yourself , that impact on your ability to parent? Do you require support over mental health issues for instance?
How capable you and the child’s other parent are of meeting your child’s needs. Do you have a support network ?
Do you have the skills to look after your child and meet their needs?
Are you an emotionally mature individual who can put your child's needs above your own? That could mean can you put the ill feelings about the other parent to one side.
This is not an exact guide but hopefully provides food for thought. The most important guideline is that the welfare of the child comes first so if you can put yourself and your understandable pain on the back burner it will assist your case in court.

 Children's Mental Health Week

This caught my attention as children under the child protection radar are so more likely to have mental health issues as are those living in care. 

The link to Place2Be is here  https://www.place2be.org.uk/our-story/childrens-mental-health-week/

Mental health issues in my opinion anyway could possibly be the the last taboo. Poor mental well being although it may have a genetic link, is nothing to be ashamed of and is certainly not catching

Common causes of mental health problems:

Isolation and lack of a support network

Life events such as unemployment, bereavement, illness and abuse

Family history and upbringing including witnessing domestic violence as a child

Lack of personal resilience due to low self esteem, special needs and resistance to change

Experience of education and employment such as being bullied at school, lack of qualifications leading to limited work choices

Coping strategies

These can be positive or negative. The negative can provide short term relief but will not lead to long term improvement they include drinking alcohol , self harming, binge eating and taking drugs( including some prescription drugs)
Positive coping strategies include talking therapies, writing problems down , exercising, maintaining friendships. 

Getting help

This is a really difficult decision as whatever is supposed to happen there is no doubt that children are removed as a result of parents admitting to mental health problems in either themselves or their children. I must stress that it doesn't always happen and please don't delay getting help because of these worries. However there is help available that will not filter back to Children's Services , for instance MIND has an on line forum and in various parts of the country Stress Control Courses are run, normally you do not even give your name to join these. Alateen run support groups for 12-17 year olds affected by a family members drinking and it is also completely anonymous 

Another organisation who may offer help is Young Minds who provide a breakdown of mental health issues affecting children:

http://www.youngminds.org.uk/training_services/policy/mental_health_statistics

They run a parent helpline as well.