Transcript emerging findings

EMERGING FINDINGS
Context
• Seven groups so far
• Full analysis not yet complete so these are
impressions
• Ages of children ranged from 11- late 40’s
(although teen years are when it mostly
began)
• For a significant number of parents, there
was a background of domestic violence
• Far more mothers than fathers and many
single parents
• Significant majority took a long time to find
help
Barriers to finding support
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Lack of awareness of family support
groups
Lack of awareness of drugs / signs
Didn’t think it would happen to them
Stigma and shame – including from
own family members
First disclosures
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No clear pathways taken by most. First professionals
included: GP (most popular); police (prompted by criminal
act or from desperation);. internet (especially Frank)
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Looking for sign-posting, reassurance, a shoulder to cry on
and practical strategies on arguing, avoiding conflict etc.
Some parents asked for help for behaviour difficulties
rather than substance use
‘Support is needed at the beginning when trouble is just
brewing rather than further down the line when it’s more
extreme’
‘Emotional support from someone neutral’
‘Someone to say ‘it’s not your fault’’
‘I was looking for strategy more than anything’
Negative experiences of seeking
support
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Confidentiality issues
General feeling of failure of services /
not listening
Lack of partnership work / joined up
services
Lack of empathy
Specific examples given of negative
responses from:
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Social Services
Church
Police
Probation
Hospital staff
GP
YOT
Psychiatrists
Al-Anon
BUT…..
Positive experiences of support
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Parent Support Groups
Police
GPs
Ambulance staff and paramedics
Social Services
AA
Counselling
Church
Types of help that are valued
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Welcoming atmosphere
Feeling of acceptance rather than judgement
Meeting others and sharing of experiences
Being able to be honest and not have to worry about
shocking others
A space to think about themselves
Reassurance re. their perspective
Encouragement to stick with boundaries
Reducing isolation
To be treated as a concerned and loving family
member and not the cause of the problem /
acknowledgement that they’re trying their best
What changes would parents
recommend?
• More PSGs needed (very popular)
• See schools involved more and signposting for
families. ‘Show them this side of the nightmare’
• More powers for police
• More money for trained drug and alcohol workers
• Less stigma / judgement from professionals
‘Important there’s an acknowledgement that
behaviours shown by teenagers aren’t always the
fault of parents’
• Leaflets on drug/alcohol don’t have section for
families
• Listen to carers
‘Give absolute respect to anyone who is caring for
somebody who is a user’
‘Listen to us – we will give you the truth’
Some initial / tentative analysis
• Many factors are very similar to IPV but…
• Not naming it as abuse / domestic violence
• Unwilling to involve CJS
• Parent-child bond seen as unbreakable / still taboo
to admit not liking your child
• Huge amounts of shame, stigma and self-blame
• Lack of information / advice
• Risk not recognised by professionals
• Seems to have a particular type of pain for fathers
• For some (not all) an event between ages 12-14
seems to have been the starting point
• Difficulties in distinguishing between ‘normal’ teen
angst / moodiness and a serious problem