Since their creation in the 50s of last century and for many years to follow, ICUs (IT) departments have been “restricted” that is where the Family Access and visitors was regarded unfavorably and, therefore, very limited. This strategy was mainly motivated with fears about the risk of infections, interference with patient care, increased stress for patients and their families, and violation of the confidentiality of the information. So for many years, the admission of a patient in the ICU has followed what we might call the “principle of the revolving door” ie when the patient entered, the family was sent off. The logic can be traced in these ingrained behaviors is one that as a function of a strategic goal of primary importance such as life and health of the patient, a sort of “seizure” of the patient.

The reduction or abolition of the contacts with their affections world would be a reasonable price to pay to a much higher extent benefits, which are precisely life and health. The current knowledge has shown that the separation from loved ones is a significant cause of suffering for the patient hospitalized in the ICU and that, for the family, being able to visit at any time represents one of the most important needs. Considering more specifically the pediatric field, separation from parents has been recognized for a long time as the most source of stress for hospitalized children.

The chance to be close to their loved one, along with information, reassurance, support, and comfort, represent the five main needs of family Emotional Impact in Parents of Open and Restricted Pediatric Intensive Care: A Clinical Research Mento Carmela* Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Italy Mallamace Raffaella Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Human Pathology in Adult and Developmental Age “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, Italy Rizzo Amelia Psychiatric Unit, University of Messina, University of Messina, Italy D’Angelo Gabriella Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Human Pathology in Adult and Developmental Age “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, Italy Gitto Eloisa Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Human Pathology in Adult and Developmental Age “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, Italy 2 Taron MCR, Nunes C, Maia T • Rising Suicide Attempts-A Global Psychiatric Emergency members of patients hospitalized in intensive care. From the parents’ point of view, in addition to the uncertainty related to the child’s illness and its outcome, the loss of their parental role is a significant cause of stress. Parents of children with serious illnesses are exposed at a high risk of developing acute stress disorders, depression, and anxiety.

International Journal of Emergency Mental Health and Human Resilience, is a multidisciplinary quarterly designed to be the premier international forum and authority for the discussion of all aspects of emergency mental health.

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Journal Coordinator

International Journal of Emergency Mental Health and Human Resilience