Only one in four would trust a woman who had ever been in a mental hospital to babysit a child

[XxXflowerfairyXxX]

I wouldn't allow someone (man or woman) who had been in a psychiatric ward to babysit my kids (that I don't yet have) unless I knew details of their condition. I don't think that's a bad attitude or anything, it's like the fact that I wouldn't let a known alcoholic or drug addict babysit my children. And no, I wouldn't let someone who was actively self-harming babysit my children if I felt it was severe enough that they would be doing it in my home. I'm sorry but the safety of children is more important than hurting someone's feelings.

[Dreaming.]

I think it's interesting that this survey focuses on females.

Also, I wonder how they phrased the research. If it was "would you trust somebody who has been in a psychiatric unit to babysit?", you'd probably yield completely different results to "if you found out that somebody in your neighbourhood who you had trusted had been in a psychiatric unit, would that dissuade you from using them as a babysitter?" - in practicality, I can understand hesitation towards using somebody who had been in a psychiatric unit from looking after children, but if it was somebody known and liked in the community (as childminders often are), that's a completely different situation.

I'm tired, so I don't know if this came out as intended

[bitomato]

For the persons in this thread who felt that they would not hire a person who has been in a psychiatric unit as a babysitter- why? What is your fear? I think there has to be some fact in the belly of irrational fear- and there probably isn't. Burnout where people are unable to identify the risk factors and do not seek treatment. Untrained staff in professional child minding situations.

Relatives of mine have reinforced my confidence by letting me repeatedly babysit- knowing my diagnosis. Babysitting suggests a more personal relationship between the parents and the sitter. It is about trust sand responsibility.

People need to challenge the stereotypes of what exactly they think the person will do. You go to a psychiatric unit to get better. You should not be punished for that.

[Isoverity]

One out for four sounds generous. I would have guessed maybe one out of ten or even twenty.

[**kleechy**]

T
hats peoples ignorance towards MH !! I hate it !! I have looked after my friends kids so guess they trust me :p

[Amaryllis]

I'm also curious about the actual questions in the survey. For instance, in the baby sitting question, was it specified as to how long the person had been out of the psych ward? Is that a concern for people? Or is it a thing of once you've been in, that's it forever?