We are supportive of parents and caregivers being with their child in PICU and encourage them to visit as often as possible. We ask that no more than 2 people at a time are at your child’s bedside. Please ensure an adult supervises young visitors at all times.
Whilst your child is in PICU, we encourage you to use this time to look after yourself to rest and to sleep away from the intensive care environment in order to re-charge and maintain your physical, mental and emotional health.
Looking after yourself
Having a child in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) can be a traumatic experience for parents and caregivers whether it is a short admission or a longer admission.
It is really essential that as parents and caregivers you look after yourself and ensure that you have adequate rest, food, and fresh air. Ensuring that these things are a priority will help you to manage while your child is on PICU.
Remember that everyone copes differently in stressful environments and there is no right way to manage what is happening. Here are a few suggestions to ensure you are looking after yourself:
- If possible alternate hospital visits with another parent or carer so you get enough rest. If you have other children, this also helps give them some time with you.
- Make sometime for yourself. Take some time away from your child’s bedside. Get a coffee at the café, take a walk around the hospital or outside, make a phone call with a friend or family member.
- Ask and accept offers of practical and emotional help from family and friends. They may be able to help with meals, child care, transport or a shoulder to cry on.
- If you already have formal supports in place such as counselling or psychology make contact with them or schedule an additional appointment.
- Ask to speak to a PICU social worker who can assist you to make sense of what is happening and provide you with strategies to manage your child’s admission
Other Helpful resources:
Emotions
Parents and carers can experience a huge range of emotions when their child is admitted to PICU. These might include emotions such as grief, guilt, depression, anxiety and fear. These are all normal. It is your body’s natural response to a traumatic event. When our brains experience trauma, they can struggle to cope with it. Its normal – and part of the brain healing itself – to experience flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive thoughts immediately following a traumatic experience. It’s when these normal reactions become chronic that they can become a problem.
Where to go for support
While the above feelings are normal it’s important to recognise when they are becoming a problem for you. Talk with your family, friends and your spiritual leader if you have one. Don’t wait to reach out for extra support if you are worried about your symptoms.
You can also reach out to the team looking after your child in hospital. Let the PICU nurses or doctors know that you would like to speak with the PICU social worker.
You can also reach out to your general practitioner who may also refer you to a counsellor or psychologist accessing a Mental Health plan.
Other Helpful Support lines:
Beyond Blue – Mental Health Support line
Phone: 1300 22 4636 (24 Hrs)
Lifeline – Mental Health Support line
Phone: 13 11 14 (24 Hrs)
HeadtoHealth – Mental Health Support and Referral line.
Phone: 1800 595 212 (8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday except public holidays)
Siblings
Having a sibling in PICU can be tough for children no matter what age they are. Like adults children will have different ways of coping with the situation. What you can tell your child will of course depend on their age and cognitive understanding.
You can help your child by explaining and being honest if you don’t know what is going to happen. Also saying something that will help your child feel secure and reassured is important. For example: “Your brother is very sick but the doctors and nurses are doing everything they can to help”.
You can also help your child by:
- keeping as much of your child’s routine as possible
- letting the siblings childcare or school know what has happened so they can provide additional support if needed
- encouraging your child to keep a diary or write letters
- encouraging your child to draw pictures
- answer any questions they have
- allow them to visit if you feel it’s appropriate
Keeping a diary and/or drawing can make it easier for your child to talk about what they are experiencing.
Monash Children’s Hospital has a Child Life Therapy team who can develop a Life story book for a sibling about their brother/sister’s admission to hospital.
If you are concerned about your child’s siblings please ask to speak to the PICU SW who can provide you with some resources and strategies to assist them
Children visiting their sibling in PICU
Talk to your nurse or the PICU social worker first about bringing your child’s sibling into PICU. If you would like your child’s sibling to visit PICU it is good to prepare them for what they might see. Talk to them about how their sibling might look. Talk to them about the machines that their sibling might have attached to them. Give them an idea of what will happen during the visit.
Support Lines for children:
Kids Help Line
Phone: 1800 55 1800 (24hrs)