Parents often don’t have time to reflect (or treat) the toll their child's illness is taking on them. Mom and/or dad are too busy trying to manage  medical treatment, the emotional impact on siblings and other family members, and one-on-one care for their child. When a child or adolescent has a mental health crisis, it affects the entire family. 

As a parent of a child who has been critically ill with a mental health disorder, have you experienced any of the symptoms below?

 You have experienced an event that involved the threat of death or serious injury

 Your response to the event involved intense fear and a sense of helplessness

 You relive experiences of the event, through distressing images and memories, upsetting dreams or even physical reactions

 You try to avoid situations or things that remind you of the traumatic event, or feel a sense of emotional numbness

 You feel as if you're constantly on guard or alert for signs of danger, which may make it difficult to sleep or concentrate

 Your symptoms last longer than one month

 The symptoms cause significant distress in your life or interfere with your ability to go about your normal daily tasks

(Mayo Clinic)