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Comic Song
 
Why COMIC? 
Sometimes you just have 
to laugh! 
 
About COMIC
COMIC was formed at a forum held on 18 February 2000, and is comprised of a group of adult children who share a common interest for children of mentally ill consumers. The group shares a common perception of the past failure by the mental health services to acknowledge and support them as children with special needs and assistance. COMIC also acknowledges that there has been a lack of support for ill parents and / or families. The group has begun to lobby and advocate for the rights of these children and the ill parent who continue to suffer due to the lack of sufficient acknowledgement, education and support by services.
Some members of COMIC have expertise in relation to children of consumers with a mental illness and all members are identifying issues and the means of addressing them. We aim to change the culture surrounding mental illness within both mental health services and the broader community therefore contributing to destigmatisation. COMIC wants to see a higher focus pertaining to children of parents with a mental illness.
 
Mission Statement
 
TO ADVOCATE AND PROMOTE AWARENESS FOR CHILDREN OF MENTALLY ILL CONSUMERS BY:
1. ADVOCACY
Lobbying for Children's Rights working within the guidelines and recommendations:
*   United Nations Convention for Children’s Rights
*   Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission Report (Brian Burdekin (1993) Chapter 16)
*   National Mental Health Strategy (1999) Phase Two
*   Brennan Report (2000)
Children of Parents Affected by a Mental Illness Scoping Report prepared by AICAFMHA - Australian Infant Child Adolescent Family Mental Health Association Inc. (March 2000)
2. EDUCATION
To promote mental illness education as part of the school curriculum.
3. INFORMATION
*   Supporting Our Family Kit
*   COMIC Brochure
*   COMIC Web Site
*   COMIC Corner Resource Library
Presentations
4. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
Acknowledgment of childrens existence.
Advocate for the commencement of concurrent child and parent support groups.
Encourage Young Carers Respite Programs.
To ensure that all children of mentally ill consumers receive information, education about mental illness and they are supported so that they do not feel alone and isolated.
To encourage the use of a Care Plan so that children understand what to do during a crisis situation so that any trauma will be cushioned.
To make counselling available should the children be traumatised.
 
Recent Achievements
 
COMIC has also contributed to the development of The Department of Human Services South Australia Draft Policy for Children with Parents or Relatives with a Mental illness.
COMIC believes that a concerted focus on children is timely because of the process of reform occurring within South Australia following the Brennan Report and the implementation plan for the National Mental Health Strategy Stage 2.
 
Our Challenge to You
 
* How can your organisation contribute to finding solutions to some of the above issues?
* How can you contribute to educating these children?
* How can your organisation help to support these children by offering respite and perhaps fun as this may not always be available to them?
* How can you offer them mental health and wellbeing?
These questions are all food for thought.
We at COMIC believe there are many organisations that can offer some solutions to the above. Ultimately, we would like to see the services available through a universal hospital and psychiatric intake computer system throughout Australia. We would like to see that once a parent is initially admitted and/or diagnosed that services are automatically made available to their dependant children and a family approach is taken.
We believe that with better interagency communication, better education, better care and support this can be achieved.
Our goal is to see the family unit as a whole supported during a perhaps difficult time.
It Can Happen!
 
Issues
Could I Lose My Children?
Some vulnerable parents are afraid of having their children taken away because they are unwell. We're sure this is not the case with parents who have diabetes, heart problems etc. Respite services should be made available.
Inadequate Counselling for Children
There is no counselling in most States and Territories within Australia available to these children on trauma, anger, grief and behavioural management unless they present to a service when the problems have escalated and reach crisis point. COMIC advocates for early intervention, prevention and promotion.
Lack of Funding
This is one of the most neglected areas of funding/support to mental health since it began.
Inadequate Support Services
With deinstitutionalisation there has unfortunately been a lack of support and services for parents and that this effects the children too!
Communities Lack Understanding
The Stigma of mental illness has a huge effect on these children and they somehow have to try and grow up at the same time.
 
COMIC continues to:
* Advocate for services and support to be put in place
* Provide education about mental illness
* Provide public speakers
* Provide links to other services
For futher information:
Email: comic.australiafoundation@y7mail.com
 
Postal Address:     PO Box 310
Marleston SA 5033