Resumen de esta obra

Families living with parental mental and/or substance use disorders continue to face considerable biopsychosocial challenges, with complex pathways to mitigating risk, enhancing resilience and supporting recovery. An ecological, life-span approach to improving outcomes for all family members – infants, children, adolescents and adults who are parents – requires careful consideration of sociocultural conditions, life stages and developmental ages alongside family-focused needs, goals and plans. In addition, community contexts, policy developments and practice innovation play roles in contributing to the wellbeing and functioning of all family members. The risk conveyed to all family members by parental mental and/or substance use disorders is great. Fortunately, the opportunities to intervene are plentiful and varied. However, in many cases, interventions are unspecified, untested and not brought to scale in regional, state or national initiatives. We may have the requisite knowledge to inform policy and practice, but this evidence may not be applied to effect innovation or change, suggesting the need for widespread knowledge translation and dissemination efforts, with significant potential to improve public mental health.