Why your dad is so often scared

When a person suffers from mental illness, their entire environment suffers, especially their children. But where can those affected find help? The new educational video series from the Institut Kinderseele Schweiz can be a first step.

In order to better support parents with a mental illness, their families and their environment, the organisation Institut Kinderseele Schweiz iks has launched an online platform. The first centrepiece of this platform is twelve short films on the topic. Some of these films tell a story based on the experiences of those affected," says Alessandra Weber, Managing Director of iks. «In other films, young people explain the seven most common mental illnesses in a clear and easy-to-understand way.»

And this is what it looks like: Two teenagers are sitting at a table. «Can you explain borderline personality disorder to me?» the girl asks the boy. «Sure, when was the last time you felt ostracised and alone?» The girl doesn't have to think twice. When she started her new class in the summer and nobody paid any attention to her at first... But the feeling quickly passed. She made friends. The boy nods: «And this feeling doesn't go away with borderline patients...» In another film, the girl asks the boy when he was last afraid. «On the ten-metre tower in the indoor pool, my heart was beating really fast, it didn't feel good at all,» he remembers. «Now imagine that feeling keeps coming back - even though you're not standing on the ten-metre tower...»

Young people explain borderline personality disorder in the iks video

Anxieties and compulsions, borderline and bipolar disorder, addiction and schizophrenia - mental illnesses have many faces and are often difficult for children and young people to understand. «Our films are intended to make an important contribution to this,» says Alessandra Weber from iks.

In addition to the films, the organisation also offers further training for professionals at www.iks-ies.ch as well as online counselling. Here, young people can find a sympathetic ear and help from young people and parents of other affected parents.

Link to the Youtube channel

Young people explain fears and compulsions - and give tips on what children can do if their parents are affected.

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