Do you think that people with mental illness should be allowed to have children? Why or why not?

Question

For instance, people with Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Personality disorder, Schizophrenia etc.

To those who believe I am sterotyping a group of people, please look carefully at my name. Also, feel free to read some of my answers to other questions.

This question was posed because I was wonder what an annoymous group of people thought about me becoming a parent based on the sole knowledge of my mental "status". I said the word "allowed" to spark interest in the question and incite anger in those that may support my wishes. Thank you all for your answers. I'm still on the fence.

Answer 1

Like all the others that answered yes and gave reason! I agree with all of them!! I have the experience! My boyfriend is bipolar and suffers from depression anxiety, anger,and he also has a sleeping disorder! Me on the other hand haven't been diagnosed for any of that except that i have a mental illness called epilepsy! My son is 2yrs old! Were all healthy and happy!! It just takes support like everyone has said!!! Don't stereotype us!!!

Answer 2

What is this? Nazi eugenics? Yes, people with mental illness should be able to have kids. For one, just because you have a mental illness, this does not mean that you are unstable and an unfit parent. There are millions of people with mental illness that function like everyone else. For two, yes, some mental illnesses are genetic, but its not 100% that a child will develop a mental illness too. I worked with a client with long-term schizoaffective disorder and he was married to a woman with schizophrenia. Both were loving, affectionate parents. He made a good living (making more than me) and his son was perfectly healthy (emotionally and physically). What you have done is stereotype every person with mental illness. We have made slow progress on removing the stigma of mental illness and you've just set it back 20 years.
What's next? Sterilize all African Americans because some of them belong to gangs?

Answer 3

"Allowed to have children" is a strong statement. If a person who is suffering from one of these disorders is responsible and taking their medication , can go to work and thrive in their family and community, they might be able to handle it as long as there is someone there to help out such as a spouse or close family member who lives with the person.
If they don't have support from someone close to them, then I would think that perhaps having a child may be a bit of a challenge and that would not be fair to the child who will have to grow up under a person who is not stable and may face being taken away from their mother.

It also depends on the severity of their disorder. If it is severe and they have outbreaks of behavioral changes, then something should be done so that they will not be able to become pregnant, hopefully by the person themselves and not someone else making a decision about someone's life even if they don't want to prevent pregnancy.
It all depends on living situations and serverity of illness.

Answer 4

I believe there should be a licensing procedure for anyone to have kids. I worked at a group home for 3 years, and trust me, I think some mentally ill people would make way better parents than some of the just plain sorry screw ups that just keep pumping them out for the state to raise.
Anyone with a mental illness that is under control with meds, and who will keep taking their meds, should be able to parent just fine. It takes regular appointments and a support system to help keep a mental illness under control. I worked at a mental hospital too, and all some of these people needed was a willingness to take their meds, but in full blown schizophrenic episode, it's kinda hard to reason with a person. Then there was the 8 months pregnant woman with 7 kids already, and she was trying to smoke crystal meth and cheeking pills to take all together for a buzz. She had sex with another patient in the bathroom on the hall so he would give her his pill. Should SHE be able to keep having kids? She was there for depression and drug addiction, not one of the disorders you listed.
Wow, you got me on a roll.... sorry.

Answer 5

Having children is a priviliedge and a responsibility. People with mental illnesses should not be "ruled out" of having children based on their illness. If the person is highly responsible, in regard to administering their own medication, alternative treatments (whatever it may be) and educating themselves on their disorder then why not have children? It is the person who diregards their medicin/treatment when they feel that they are better etc. who could cause harm to their children, themselves or others. I feel that whether or not you have an illness is null and void in regard to children. Anyone who cannot take care of themselves first and who is not responsible should not have children.

Answer 6

No because the illness makes it almost impossible to care for the children in the proper way. If a person has a hard time taking care of themselves and taking care of their responsibilities how are they gonna be able to properly care for a child? There should be a law to prevent mentally ill people from having children but I doubt that will ever happen.

Answer 7

Oh yes just because their chemistry is a little off does not mean they should be taken from what other humans do. They sure can be as successful and have a family, hopefully get better as people who do not have it. That would be wrong and UN American. rather predigest. But they should also be getting some help from doctors and therapy if so medication. Good luck to them as well as everyone else!

Answer 8

I would have almost seen your point but people with those types of (mostly) minor imbalances are hardly risking the integrity of the gene pool. If you had said autism or some other major genetic handicap then I would have almost sympathized.

Even so, Eugenics are illegal for a reason. And Nazi Germany was a primary example.

Answer 9

I think you should refrain from insulting people just because they ask an obviously goofy question that for some incredibly pathetic reason rubs you the wrong way.

Talk about a mental illness.

Answer 10

I think most people with mental illness are fine to have children, but perhaps some monitoring in place for the more afflicted couldn't hurt.