Those parents trying to manage custody with a mentally ill co-parent face unique challenges. Most also realize that the severity of some mental illnesses waxes and wanes over time.
The cyclic nature of some mental health disorders can sporadically affect your co-parent’s ability to effectively care for the children. Below are some challenges that parents can face.
A co-parent is dishonest about mental health
People hide (or lie about) the severity of their mental health struggles for various reasons. One reason many co-parents are less than honest about their mental and behavioral statuses is that they fear their custodial rights are in jeopardy (and they may be).
They stop taking the necessary medication
It’s common knowledge that some of the most effective pharmaceuticals prescribed to manage behavioral disorders and psychiatric diagnoses come with many undesirable side effects. Thus, while it is understandable why patients are noncompliant with their meds, it still might be inappropriate.
What can co-parents do?
If you fear that your co-parent is in the throes of their mental illness, documenting the consequences in a custody journal may be appropriate. These notes can later be used to substantiate allegations of parental unfitness should the need arise.
Whether or not you should ask for a custody change, however, depends on many factors, including your co-parent’s diagnoses and ability to manage their condition(s). Some mental illnesses may not manifest the most serious symptoms in every patient.
For these and other reasons, worried co-parents may find it necessary to file for a custody modification.