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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| In the mind: Growing up with 'not a normal dad' | In the mind: Growing up with 'not a normal dad' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| What is it like growing up with a parent who needs reminding to take the medication that stems the voices in his head? And what is it like to be the father who relies on his young daughters to get him through the day? | What is it like growing up with a parent who needs reminding to take the medication that stems the voices in his head? And what is it like to be the father who relies on his young daughters to get him through the day? |
| BBC News takes a look into the life of a family from Sussex. In their own words, 15-year-old Keavy, nine-year-old Kara, mum Kate and dad Rob describe how they cope with mental illness and physical disability. | BBC News takes a look into the life of a family from Sussex. In their own words, 15-year-old Keavy, nine-year-old Kara, mum Kate and dad Rob describe how they cope with mental illness and physical disability. |
| Rob | Rob |
| I have bipolar disorder, a personality disorder and am a recovering alcoholic. | I have bipolar disorder, a personality disorder and am a recovering alcoholic. |
| The girls keep saying to me "you're not a normal dad". I don't think they mean it rudely - but I'm not. | The girls keep saying to me "you're not a normal dad". I don't think they mean it rudely - but I'm not. |
| I'm OK at the moment, but in September I had a bad time. I had voices in my head. | I'm OK at the moment, but in September I had a bad time. I had voices in my head. |
| I think I'd just had enough. I stopped for a cigarette on a railway bridge and then I was sort of hanging over the edge. Literally hanging over. The next thing I knew there were three police cars there. | I think I'd just had enough. I stopped for a cigarette on a railway bridge and then I was sort of hanging over the edge. Literally hanging over. The next thing I knew there were three police cars there. |
| I had to go down to Eastbourne hospital mental health place. They kept me going until I got better again and now I can go back whenever I want if I need them. | I had to go down to Eastbourne hospital mental health place. They kept me going until I got better again and now I can go back whenever I want if I need them. |
| I take medication three times a day. Once in the morning, lunchtime and a big dose in the evening - it makes me sleep better. | I take medication three times a day. Once in the morning, lunchtime and a big dose in the evening - it makes me sleep better. |
| People call you mental. You're not - it's just a word that people associate you with. | People call you mental. You're not - it's just a word that people associate you with. |
| I don't know what it is really - I just can't handle stuff sometimes. | I don't know what it is really - I just can't handle stuff sometimes. |
| Keavy | Keavy |
| I feel like because I'm the older one of me and Kara I should be the one taking it all on, not her, because I want her to have a childhood as much as possible - to have what I didn't really get. | I feel like because I'm the older one of me and Kara I should be the one taking it all on, not her, because I want her to have a childhood as much as possible - to have what I didn't really get. |
| Since the age of four, when I've been able to do stuff I've been helping. | Since the age of four, when I've been able to do stuff I've been helping. |
| I did look after Mum - who uses a wheelchair - at first, but then all this with Dad came. So I took that on board as well. | I did look after Mum - who uses a wheelchair - at first, but then all this with Dad came. So I took that on board as well. |
| It doesn't really affect school as much as it used to. When I first started caring for Dad it used to scare me a bit with his moods, because I didn't really understand. | It doesn't really affect school as much as it used to. When I first started caring for Dad it used to scare me a bit with his moods, because I didn't really understand. |
| But as I've become older and people have told me about it, I can understand. | But as I've become older and people have told me about it, I can understand. |
| So I don't really worry about what he's going to be like when I come home. | So I don't really worry about what he's going to be like when I come home. |
| I used to go to a young carers' club but then it got cut. Kara has her club now, which I help out at. | I used to go to a young carers' club but then it got cut. Kara has her club now, which I help out at. |
| But we've just found out that from next month Kara's club is going to be cut too. | But we've just found out that from next month Kara's club is going to be cut too. |
| Some days I feel like running away from it all - but then I sit and think and look at it and realise that there are people probably in a worse situation than me, and thinking about it I've got it quite lucky. | Some days I feel like running away from it all - but then I sit and think and look at it and realise that there are people probably in a worse situation than me, and thinking about it I've got it quite lucky. |
| At least we've got each other. | At least we've got each other. |
| It makes me different to other people but it's like a good kind of different. | It makes me different to other people but it's like a good kind of different. |
| You're your own person - you're not like all your friends. You kind of stand out from the crowd. It gives you a sense of pride. | You're your own person - you're not like all your friends. You kind of stand out from the crowd. It gives you a sense of pride. |
| Kara | Kara |
| It can be a bit hard sometimes. Sometimes I have to get Dad medication. He sometimes forgets things and you have to tell him over and over again. | It can be a bit hard sometimes. Sometimes I have to get Dad medication. He sometimes forgets things and you have to tell him over and over again. |
| I go to a special club every fortnight and I do different things like playing in the barn and making stuff. | I go to a special club every fortnight and I do different things like playing in the barn and making stuff. |
| When I'm there I feel relaxed and calm. If I didn't have a club to go to I'd be stressed out. | When I'm there I feel relaxed and calm. If I didn't have a club to go to I'd be stressed out. |
| The family has been told Kara's club is to close but have been informed of alternative support services. | The family has been told Kara's club is to close but have been informed of alternative support services. |
| Kate | Kate |
| I was born with spinal bifida which means I'm not actually paralysed but there's a split in my spine. I can move my legs, but I can't walk. | I was born with spinal bifida which means I'm not actually paralysed but there's a split in my spine. I can move my legs, but I can't walk. |
| I just want Rob to be a normal dad and a normal husband - like you see other families out and about, laughing and joking. | I just want Rob to be a normal dad and a normal husband - like you see other families out and about, laughing and joking. |
| It upsets me. It's really hard. | It upsets me. It's really hard. |
| Rob gets confused about things quite a bit. Keavy will sit down and explain things to him. Like if it's on the iPad or something, he doesn't quite get it for the first couple of times. She's very patient and will sit there and explain it all over to him again. | Rob gets confused about things quite a bit. Keavy will sit down and explain things to him. Like if it's on the iPad or something, he doesn't quite get it for the first couple of times. She's very patient and will sit there and explain it all over to him again. |
| He's got a few passwords and he keeps forgetting what they are so he tells Keavy what they are and she remembers them for him. | He's got a few passwords and he keeps forgetting what they are so he tells Keavy what they are and she remembers them for him. |
| My girls are my world. They're so special and I'm so proud to have two lovely girls who help. | My girls are my world. They're so special and I'm so proud to have two lovely girls who help. |
| I wouldn't want to be in their position if I was their age. I'd want to be going out doing things instead of looking after my mum and dad. | I wouldn't want to be in their position if I was their age. I'd want to be going out doing things instead of looking after my mum and dad. |
| In The Mind - a series exploring mental health issues | In The Mind - a series exploring mental health issues |
| Explained: What is mental health and where can I go for help? | Explained: What is mental health and where can I go for help? |
| Mood assessment: Could I be depressed? | Mood assessment: Could I be depressed? |
| In The Mind: BBC News special report (or follow "Mental health" tag in the BBC News app) | In The Mind: BBC News special report (or follow "Mental health" tag in the BBC News app) |