Profound and often underestimated. Research consistently shows that parents of children who have experienced cardiac arrest are at high risk of PTSD, anxiety, and depression — often at rates comparable to those seen in the survivors themselves. This is true whether the child makes a full recovery or not, and whether the parent was present during the arrest or not.
Common experiences include intrusive memories or flashbacks of the event, hypervigilance about the child’s health and behaviour, difficulty sleeping, fear of the child being out of sight, guilt about whether something could have been done differently, and a persistent sense of dread that it will happen again. These are not signs of weakness — they are normal responses to an abnormal and terrifying event.
The impact on the family as a whole can be significant. Partners may cope differently and at different rates, which can create tension. Siblings may feel overlooked, frightened, or guilty. Family life can become organised around the cardiac condition in ways that, over time, are not sustainable or healthy for anyone.
Please do not wait until you are at crisis point before seeking help. Talk to your GP about a referral to NHS Talking Therapies or a clinical psychologist. Trauma-focused CBT and EMDR are both effective for PTSD. Peer support — speaking with other parents who have been through the same experience — can also be enormously helpful. SCA UK can help connect you with others in the community.