Parental characteristics are known to predict offspring emotional and behavioral difficulties from an early age onwards. However, determinants of parental mental health and the specific ways in which parental well-being can play a role are not yet fully understood. This symposium will present data from several countries showing that parental characteristics need to be taken into account when addressing children's mental health needs. First, data from the EDEN cohort in France will show that maternal mental health varies with family circumstances and that both characteristics influence children's emotional and behavioral symptoms over the long-term. A study conducted using data from the same mother-child cohort will show the role of maternal characteristics in pregnancy in predicting children's long-term behavior. Next, two studies conducted in the UK and in the Netherlands will show the importance of paternal mental health - symptoms of anxiety and antisocial behavior - with regard to offspring well-being, whether considered alone or in combination with maternal mental health. Finally, a study from Sweden will show the interplay between parent and offspring mental health among young people transitioning to young adulthood. Overall, the research presented in this symposium will show the importance of a lifecourse and family-wide perspective when investigating mental health difficulties in children and adolescents.