Children of mentally ill parents: Understanding the effects of childhood trauma as it pertains to the school setting

•Mental illness.•Childhood trauma.•Stigma.•Grief and loss.•PTSD.

The purpose of this study was to explore the reflections of adults on their school experiences growing up with a severely mentally ill parent and understand the effects of childhood trauma as it pertains to the school setting. This was a qualitative study consisting of biographical interviews of adult children of a severely mentally ill parent. Utilizing the grounded theory approach, themes were identified using the triangulation of a literature review, experts in the field, and the researcher's perspective. Eight adults between the ages of 30–64 who had a severely mentally ill parent were interviewed one to three times and described their school experiences in detail. Themes surfaced that coincided with the literature review, the experts in the field, and the researcher's perspective, and several new themes emerged. The participants also made recommendations as to how children with a severely mentally ill parent could best be served by teachers, counselors, and school personnel.