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For patient and caregiver
This page is aimed at you who have children or young people in your family, and who are either a patient yourself, a caregiver to a patient, or a parent of a sick child with siblings.
Children and young people can be affected in different ways when someone in the family dies, is ill, or has a mental illness. Openness and predictability are important for children who are caregivers to have the opportunity to live good lives.
It is easier for children and young people to cope with illness and mental illness in the family when the family is open with each other.
Openness means that you talk together about what is happening, and that no one is left out. Children must feel safe that it is okay to ask about what they are wondering, and they must be able to trust that the adults give honest answers.
Children who are caregivers have different needs depending on personality, age, and situation, but some needs are common. Children want to understand what is happening and be part of the process. We encourage you to:
Be open about what is happening
Help children understand
Have routines and create predictability
There are several websites with useful information, resources, and overviews for you as a patient or caregiver. Here you can read more about how children are affected by illness in the family, and where you can get help and support:
Helsenorge is the public website for information and access to healthcare services, for the inhabitants of Norway. The content is provided by various actors in the healthcare sector, and the caregiver information is among other things provided by BarnsBeste.
On helsenorge.noyou will find information about what children and young people with drug use, physical and mental illness in the family need to make their everyday lives easier. You will also find advice on how to talk to children and young people about war, terror, or difficult events.
Are you a young person, or do you work with young people? Ung.no is the government's information channel for young people. They offer information and guidance to young people through a website with public information, and a question service where young people can ask about what they are wondering. The target group is young people aged 13–
The website is run by the Directorate of Children, Youth and Family Affairs (Bufdir). Caregiver information is among other things provided by BarnsBeste.
If you are very sad for a long time, or have bad thoughts that won't go away, it may be that you need help to feel better. Then you can get your own cheering squad to help you!
Treatment pathway for mental disorders in children and young people aged 6-12
