Mental health challenges for individuals can be a worrying time for everyone, and when a son/daughter is in distress it is primarily the parents who give support.

Often the role of a sibling is overlooked, yet they are an important source for practical and social support, and they can also help support their parents in times of distress.

During times of mental distress a sibling can experience negative emotions such as sorrow, worry, guilt and it is important to also be aware of how it may affect them at a future date.  Often siblings step into the role of the parent for various reasons, so having information at an early stage is necessary.

Some organisations providing supports for siblings include the Meriden family Programme.

This reference list by Meriden is a great resource.

Talking about mental health does not come easy for some people but  the power to change things can happen by having that conversation. Find out more from Rethink Mental Illness which provides lots of practical supports for siblings too.

This resource provides information for siblings and has an extensive bibliography for further reading.

This article describes the experiences of a sibling supporting his sister and what the family had to deal with.