Supporting Families of Children With Mental Disorders: A Narrative Synthesis of Needs and Systemic Challenges Publisher



Keshvari M ; Alavi M ; Haghshenas M ; Zeinalzad S
Source: Child and Family Social Work Published:2026

Abstract

Families that have children with mental disorders face complex problems that impact their emotional health, social inclusion and healthcare services. Despite the increasing awareness of family needs, there is little systematic understanding of their experiences and support needs. The purpose of this narrative review is to synthesize the literature to determine the most challenging and necessary issues of families that have a child with a mental condition. This narrative literature review was conducted in two steps: (1) a structured search of the literature in the major academic databases (PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science) with predetermined search terms and (2) data extraction and thematic synthesis. Thirty studies published between 2000 and 2024 were strategically selected on the basis of their explicit focus on operationalized family experiences, including psychological distress, systemic barriers and support needs. The analysis of the results revealed that there are multiple pressures on families, which are the result of internal and external factors. Three broad themes were selected: (1) emotional and psychological burdens (characterized by chronic stress, guilt and disruption of family dynamics), (2) systemic and social barriers (such as service fragmentation, financial constraints and pervasive social stigma) and (3) essential support needs (which demand specific psychoeducational and therapeutic assistance). One of the most important observations is that differences in culture and policy influence the aggravation of these issues and the limited scope of assistance. Families that have children with mental disorders face emotional, social and systemic challenges, which are normally hectic and made worse by the lack of policy. These findings highlight the necessity of fundamental reform, such as policy reforms to achieve equitable and timely access to mental health care, strengthening social support networks and psychoeducational interventions for caregivers to reduce chronic stress and increase coping levels. The family-centred approach will play a vital role in enhancing the well-being of caregivers and contributing to positive outcomes in children. © 2026 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.