Background
to Training
Having
a baby can be a wonderful experience yet it can also be extremely
stressful. The relationship between the parents can come under
particular stress as new routines are introduced and life
changes dramatically. Research shows that 50–80% of new mothers
experience some amount of depression (Walther, 1997). This
is hardly surprising when you consider the sleepless nights,
lack of leisure time (and time for their partner), pressure
on finances, hormonal changes and so on that mothers of young
children often experience. Parenthood can be extremely daunting;
to be told that your child also has a disability can lead
many couples into crisis.
The
time of diagnosis of a disability is a time of considerable
challenge, stress and crisis for a family. Most parents do
not expect to have a disabled child, and find it difficult
to re-adjust their expectations. The relationship between
the parents often becomes secondary to caring for the child.
A 2003 report by Contact a Family surveyed the views of 2,000
parents of disabled children to discern the impact the child
had on their relationship. Furthermore, parents said that
they also experienced problems at work, with housing and other
family members as a direct result of their child's disability.
In
April 2005, Scope secured funding from the DfES for the Strengthening
Families Project. The project has worked extensively alongside
parents, who have contributed directly to the training package.
The
project also worked in collaboration with a number of professionals
and voluntary organisations, including Contact a Family, Relate,
Sunfield School , One plus One, the Face 2 Face Network and
Recognising Fathers.
Reference:
Walther, V.N. (1997) Postpartum depression: a review
for perinatal social workers, Social Work in Health Care
, 24, 99–111.
Taken from the Strengthening
Families Training Pack
For more information contact
the Strengthening Families Project:
Tel: 01480
454875
Email strengtheningfamilies@scope.org.uk
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