Children of mentally ill parents are at high risk to develop psychiatric disorders. Psychiatric disorders often limit the skills of parents, and may furthermore limit the competencies of parents to recognize symptoms of psychiatric disorders in their children. Additionally these parents are reluctant to search for help by professionals for their children. An inpatient sample of parents (n = 104) admitted to psychiatric community core hospitals was examined with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to detect emotional and behavioural problems of their children. 81 parents were able to complete the study. Burden due to in-patient treatment of the parents was examined. Parent’s answers in SDQ indicated an up to five times increased number of children with emotional or behavioural problems compared to non-psychiatric samples. As quoted by parents children were extremely burdened by the treatment of their parents. Parents received seldom professional help by child and adolescent psychiatrists or psychotherapists related to their children, even if they recognized the need for professional support.