Becoming a Parent with Mental Illness

Having children is a deeply personal choice and one that should not be taken lightly. Ensuring that you are financially able, emotionally stable, and mature enough to withstand the rigors of parenting is something that every person must do. All that said, how does one factor their own mental illness concerns into the decision? Should people like Gabe and Michelle – one who lives with bipolar and the other, schizophrenia – have children? Is the risk of passing on the burdens of mental illness too great of a risk? Does having mental illness mean you can’t be a good parent? Where is the line? Our hosts discuss all this and more in this episode of A Bipolar, a Schizophrenic, and Podcast. Highlights from ‘Kids’ Episode [00:30] Gabe and Michelle discuss having children. [3:00] What did Gabe decide about bringing children into the world? [7:00] Does Michelle think she can take care of a kid? [9:00] Gabe is a loop-hole grandpa. [12:30] Gabe was told he couldn’t babysit his friends’ kids because he is bipolar. [18:20] Gabe teaches his 4-year-old niece about mental illness. [21:00] What did Michelle decide about bringing children into the world?