Vanessa Duff writes for Expat Living on mental health, parenting styles, and seeking help
min readEvery parent has to cope with challenges of one kind or another, but if an individual has a mental health issue, it may be harder for them to care for their child in a safe and loving way without help from support networks.
In the second instalment of an online series by Expat Living about different aspects of mental health and the impact they have on children and parents, Vanessa Duff, Family Partner in our Hong Kong office, provides insights on the legal ramifications of a parent having a mental health condition in child custody proceedings or other family law matters.
She collaborates and co-authors the article with Dr Quratulain Zaidi, British-registered Clinical Psychologist.
In the piece, Vanessa covers issues such as:
- How are the claims of a mental health considition assessed by the court?
- Is there a presumption that a parent with a mental health condition has a dimished capacity to parent?
- How do mental health issues affect financial matters?
- How can ongoing treatment and outcome affect legal decisions - for example, the variation of maintenance orders?
Read the full piece in Expat Living here. For details of the previous article in the series, read more here.
