Open Day Focuses on Supporting children of Parents with Mental Illness
The University Clinic and polyclinic for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics at the University Medical Center Halle will host an open day on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, dedicated to the unique needs of children whose parents experience mental illness. The event, titled “The Next Generation – Children of mentally Ill Parents,” aims to raise awareness of the challenges these children face and highlight available support systems.
The open day is primarily geared towards parents,relatives,and anyone interested in learning more about this often-overlooked issue. Organizers emphasize the importance of providing these children with security, understanding, and stable environments to foster healthy progress and resilience. Many children in these situations struggle to understand their parent’s illness, leading to feelings of guilt and isolation.
“With this open house, we want to create a space for conversation between parents, relatives, and experts, focusing on the central question: what support do children of mentally ill parents truly need?” explains Apl. Dr.Stefan Watzke, senior psychologist at the clinic and event organizer. “Our goal is to showcase concrete help and develop perspectives for a stronger everyday life.”
Prof. Dr. Oliver Tüscher, director of the clinic, adds, “Resilience - the ability to cope with life’s challenges – is central to our clinical and scientific work. Children of mentally ill parents are at increased risk,making it crucial to offer them clear structures,reliable caregivers,and open,age-appropriate education about mental health to maximize their chances of growing up strong and healthy.”
The program, developed in collaboration with “Soul Stones – Aid for Children of Mental Illness,” the Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research (LIR) in Mainz, and cultural workers from the “Alliance against Depression,” combines professional insights with cultural experiences.
The day begins at 3:00 p.m. with presentations in the lecture hall, including an introduction to the play “Mika’s Soul Circus,” which explores emotional turmoil in children.This will be followed by a lecture from Sophia Jansen of the LIR on the Beware project, promoting mental health skills in young people, a presentation on the work of the Soul Stones project, and insights into music therapy for children. From 4:30 p.m.,attendees can enjoy a humorous reading from “the maze,” and at 5:00 p.m., a performance of “Die Nibelungen von Wörmlitz” by the Labyrinth meeting place. Concurrent with these events, guided tours of the historical clinic site will be offered starting at 4:30 p.m.
Further data about the event can be found [here](link to event information – original article contained this but no actual link).
