Childrens' groups
In Lund, Sweden, groups have been started
for children with psychologically ill relatives. The groups were
evaluated by Margareta Östman. The children met eight times
for two hours, during which they devoted themselves to  games,
drama, and other activities. When the children were between ten
and eighteen years old, they were interviewed by Margareta Östman.
She found that the children's loneliness had diminished which was
of great importance. Through dialogues they learned to know their
own significance, they got a bigger self-confidence and less feelings
of guilt, and they felt an increased security. A negative thing,
however, was that the groups reduced their leisure time.
Also the children’s parents were interviewed.
They reported that they had been supported in their parental roles,
and had developed a better dialogue with their children. They also
had fewer feelings of guilt.
Margareta Östman thinks that the psychiatric
care must take a greater responsibility for the childrens’
groups and inform about their existence. .
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