The aim of the project was to reduce learning barriers for children of parents with mental illness, who are considered a high-risk group. Parental mental illness is a contributing factor to a number of learning disadvantages for the children and young people affected and causes considerable annual follow-up costs. For example, school absenteeism – a common side effect among children who are also entrusted with family care responsibilities as ‘young carers’ – threatens tondisintegrate all areas of social life. A lack of or very poor school qualifications make the transition from school to training and working life more difficult. For young people, school is not only a place of learning, but also the central social reference point where resilience can and should be promoted. With this in mind, the project aims to promote the mental and social resilience of disadvantaged pupils and thus improve their learning conditions.
Children of parents with mental illness face a variety of challenges that also affect their schooling in the form of learning difficulties. The Kidstime programme effectively addresses their core needs: a) psychoeducational explanations, b) access to a group with similar experiences, and c) stable contact with supportive adults outside the family. All participating institutions have experience with this model and access to school contexts, and cooperation with local schools has already taken place in previous projects, so that these contacts can be built upon. Information on mental health is prepared and made accessible in the form of a learning platform/app. The overarching goal is to strengthen the resilience of children and reduce learning barriers as a contribution to inclusion and destigmatisation.