Is it safe for someone who has mental health issues to have children alone?

[Doyouever]

When I say this I mean someone who will not seek help for what is wrong.

Depends totally on what those issues are. But I’m guessing this isn’t you. So you can’t control whether another woman has a child or not.

How can we possibly answer that? It depends what the mental health issue is and how it affects the person.

Depends on what they are, surely? For instance, I used to leave my son happily for play dates with his friend whose parent had well-managed bipolar disorder — I completely trusted her.

Depends on the issues. I have 'mental health issues'. I'm also a single parent.

I would really depend on the type of, severity of and impact of their mental health condition and what mitigating factors there are (eg. Support network).

Obviously not getting help is not good, though.

I am also a lone parent with mental health conditions. A lot of parents develop them after having kids, eg. I went through a trauma and was diagnosed with PTSD, and I developed pre and post natal anxiety and depression and intrusive thoughts. Mental health conditions can happen to anyone at any time. Schizophrenia often doesn't show until late 20s or 30s by which point many already have kids.

I had another thread the other day about my ex husband and his abusive behaviours and his abusive childhood. I do believe he isn’t intentionally a bad person but I am worried about his behaviours none the less.

He has a past that needs therapy but he said he doesn’t believe in western medicine etc. I’m English and he African with English upbringing really. He used to drink, smoke weed, find religion etc anything to hide behind, then he hid behind me and now I can see the children.

He puts so much importance on them to be his saviour. Tells them all the time they here to fix his life, they are absolutely everything, they are reincarnations etc and are his only purpose etc etc it’s really suffocating for them. They aren’t here to fix anything.

I’m worried really that this is not good for their mental welfare.

If you mean a cluster b personality like sociopathy or npd, no, not really. But I wouldnt call eing an abusive piece of shit a mental health issue personally. It's an insult to people who are decent human beings but genuinely ill.

As for mental health conditions, it depends on the type, stage and severity.

Update wise, personally op I would go for full custody or supervised access for him only (in an ideal world) if at all possible. But the most important thing you can do is get out yourself and create one safe space (your home) where kids can decompress from him and feel safe and talk. It is also understandable if you need to take time to strengthen yourself before commencing any custody battles (provided the kids are not at risk of physical harm).

Or if you would like to attempt co parenting with him instead, there are resources on how to co parent with a narcissist.

Yes of course they can, all depends on the person and what it is.

100% depends.

I have medicated 'mental health issues' and there is no doubt whatsoever that children would be safe in my care.

@Pinkbonbon oh I am mostly definitely out and have been for a little while. It’s just this slow brainwashing it seems by him that is bothering me. He doesn’t hurt them but he is not quite right either.