Health · Mental Health · 5 hrs ago
Study Finds Parents of Children With Mental Health Problems Face Stigma
A study interviewed 24 parents of children with ADHD, depression or substance use problems about how they experience stigma.
The parents said they felt judged by relatives, teachers, neighbors and health care providers, and some felt isolated.
They described pressure when their child’s struggles seemed to clash with expectations of being a “good parent,” such as offering emotional support and keeping communication open.
That pressure can turn into self-blame and distress, and earlier research links parental stigma with depression, lower quality of life and less willingness to seek help for a child.
Researchers say supporting parents should be part of supporting children, including helping parents communicate, set boundaries and work with care teams.
The researchers are studying a video intervention based on the interviews, while clinicians are being urged to consider stigma when planning a child’s care.
A study of 24 parents found that caregivers of children with ADHD, depression or substance use problems can experience stigma when they feel they fall short of ideals of a “good parent.”
Parents said they felt judged by relatives, teachers, neighbours and healthcare providers, and some felt isolated and looked down upon.
The study identified emotional support, open communication, appropriate boundaries, role modelling and promoting a child’s wellbeing as ideals linked to parents feeling respected.
Researchers say emotional support and involving parents in care may help reduce self-blame and stigma.
Earlier research links parental stigma with depression and lower quality of life, and suggests it can make parents less willing to seek help for their child.
- Who
- Researchers interviewed 24 parents whose children had ADHD, depression or substance use problems.
- What
- The study examined how parents experience stigma and how it can affect their sense of themselves as good parents.
- When
- Published online on Oct. 6; the articles were published on Oct. 14, 2026.
- Where
- The research was led by investigators from Weill Cornell Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, and NewYork-Presbyterian.
- Why
- The researchers sought to understand how children’s mental health problems can undermine parents’ sense of identity and inform ways to support families.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The study was published online as a special article in Psychiatric Services.
Researchers interviewed 24 parents about stigma, parenting ideals and ways they tried to maintain a positive sense of self.
Articles about the study were published by Cornell Chronicle, Bioengineer.org and Yahoo.
- Participants
- 24 parents
- Children’s conditions
- ADHD, depression or substance use problems
- Publication
- Psychiatric Services
- Publication date
- Online on Oct. 6
- Parenting ideals
- Emotional support, open communication, appropriate boundaries, role modelling and contributing to a child’s wellbeing
3 sources
What people are saying
To support children, we also need to support parents.
A better understanding of parents’ experiences with stigma surrounding a child’s mental health enables clinicians to more effectively help parents, and more empowered parents likely leads to better outcomes for children.
A number of participants spoke passionately about feeling like there is not a lot of support for parents.