SUPPORT FOR SIBLINGS
of those with mental illness
Welcome to Support for Siblings. Here we seek to support those who have grown up with a brother or sister with mental illness. It aims to help you understand yourself, and the possible impact your childhood may have had on you, better.
When a child suffers from a mental illness, the entire family tends to experience considerable stress as well as a loss of predictability and coherence of everyday life. Historically, however, siblings were largely ignored both by researchers and health care organisations. What attention there has been, has been driven by the desire to establish what these siblings may need in order to support and care for their mentally ill brother or sister when their parents are no longer able to. The support the siblings themselves may need has not been given much attention. We seek to address this.
What this website offers
The aim of this website is to provide information for siblings of those with mental illness about how their family situation may have shaped their way of being now, both in terms of how they see the world and also in terms of how they may interact with others. It is based on current research findings and shares suggestions that may boost self awareness and in provide fresh understandings. It also shares what you can do to support yourself, in your life and relationships, going forward.
About Dr Hester Bancroft
UKCP registered Psychotherapist and
Founder of Support for Siblings
I am a Counselling Psychologist registered with the BPS (British Psychological Society) as a Chartered Psychologist (C.Psychol.) and, as such, I am also registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). In addition, I am a registered Psychotherapist (accredited by the UKCP) and a professional member of the Association of NLP (ANLP). I have been in private practice since 2008 and work with individuals who have a wide range of issues.
I, myself, grew up with a sister who suffered from severe mental health issues so have experienced, first hand, the challenges of growing up in this situation. Sadly, I lost my sister in 2013, aged just 52. Because of my experiences, and those of my entire family, I began to read extensively around the subject and realised how under researched this area has been and how little support there is available to siblings (in contrast to siblings whose brother or sister has physical or learning disabilities). This finding prompted me to carry out my own research, as part of my doctoral studies, specifically to explore the impact growing up in this situation has on a person's way of relating to others, particularly in terms of their intimate adult relationships. This website is underpinned by my findings.
I launched this website not only as a way of sharing these findings but also to offer support to those of you who have had similar experiences. I hope you find the information here helpful and informative.
Hester