How do children and adolescents experience living with parents who have mental illnesses? What impact can a parent's illness have on a child's development? What strengthens children and helps them cope with their parents' mental health issues? Mental illnesses are among the most common health conditions in Germany, affecting an estimated 33% of the population. This means that about three million children experience a parent with a mental illness each year. Fortunately, the everyday problems, stresses, and challenges faced by these children are increasingly being recognized in the professional community. This guide provides an overview of the most common mental illnesses, details the potential consequences for the family system (stigma, taboo, isolation, etc.), and offers some understandable information on the topic.