I think it's very important to be proactive with this type of thing as early as possible. Get an assessment done, and pay attention to yourself and your children for any warning signs. Those who get help sooner and have a good support system definitely have a higher rate of success than those who put it off, don't have a strong support system or have experienced trauma. The best thing you can do is make sure your children feel loved and experience security and stability in their lives, which it sounds like you are already doing .

While no one's MI progression is their fault, there are steps one can take , such as attending therapy, learning and utilizing coping skills , taking medications (if prescribed) and taking responsibility for their own actions, in order to have the best quality of life possible.

I, personally have been hospitalized 27 times in the past 8 years for my MI and I saw many people go down the path I knew I didn't want to go down. And I still worry about what will become of me as I get older. But eventually I made the commitment to do everything I can to NOT go there and lead the best life I can, because in the end it will come down to our choices. About 4 years ago I briefly ended up getting myself put in a group home that was almost like a nursing home (I was only 20). It was one of the most miserable and hopeless times of my life, but I chose to work my way out of that situation. And now, I'm living on my own and going to college. It's nowhere near perfect but I'm confident I'll only go up from here.

The bottom line is, everyone has a battle of some sort in life. If this is what's placed before you and/or your children, all you can do is fight it the best you can and continue supporting eachother in the journey. It's all any of us can do.

Best of luck to all of you.