A Systematic Review of Help-Seeking Interventions for Parents of Adolescents

Abstract

Parents do not always seek timely help for adolescents when the need arises. Although interventions to increase parental help-seeking have been evaluated and published, no systematic review of these interventions has been conducted. The aim of this systematic review is to collate, synthesise, and evaluate research on help-seeking interventions for parents of adolescents. Methods: Six electronic databases were searched from inception to May 2020 using terms related to the concepts of "parent" and "help-seeking" and focusing on parents of adolescents (aged 10 e19 years). Methodological quality was assessed using the Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies; the Behavioural Change Taxonomy was used to code behavioral change techniques, and "promising interventions" were identified using pre-established criteria. Results: Eighteen studies met inclusion criteria, with six rated strong for design and methodology. The most frequently identified Behavioural Change Taxonomies included a credible source delivering the intervention, supporting parents, and providing prompts/cues regarding services/ appointments. Four interventions were identified as "promising" because of strong methodology, significant positive outcomes, and strong evidence-base. Conclusions: More high-quality, theory-driven parental help-seeking interventions using common outcome measures are needed to advance the literature in this area. Future research should replicate the promising interventions identified to develop best practice guidelines.

Mental Health Help-Seeking in Parents and Trajectories of Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms: Lessons Learned From the Ontario Parent Survey During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Notably, there is a lack of intervention strategies designed specifically for parents. Some programs engage parents to promote their mental health literacy; however, the goal is often to increase parents’ help-seeking for their children’s mental health problems, rather than attending to parents’ own mental health ( Murphy et al, 2021 ; Peyton et al, 2022 ). Given that parents may face unique stressors and challenges in accessing mental health help, calibrating interventions to meet parents’ needs is an important next step.…”

Impact of Parental Mental Health and Help-Seeking on Adolescents’ Suicidal Ideations and Help-Seeking Behaviors

“…The current study's findings suggested that even after controlling for the degree or severity of the mother's depression, a mother's help-seeking behavior had a significant effect on her adolescents' help-seeking behaviors. These findings emphasize the need for an active therapeutic approach and an evaluation of the main caregivers when proceeding with the therapeutic intervention of adolescents with suicidal thoughts [50]. It is crucial to consider the role of parents, particularly mothers, in facilitating adolescents' help-seeking behaviors and improving their mental health outcomes [60].…”

“…The severity of a mother's emotional symptoms can also have a notable impact on her child's help-seeking behavior by encouraging negative beliefs toward mental health services and professionals. A systematic review found that a mother's severe depression or suicidal ideation can cause a feeling of helplessness in her offspring, with many of them dismissing treatment as useless; this feeling is the most cited barrier to seeking help [49,50]. The impact of these negative perceptions of therapy may be greater if the mother receives treatment, especially as the symptoms often persist, which can further undermine the adolescent's trust in mental health services [51].…”

“…Similarly, according to another recent systematic review study, parental help-seeking behaviors may have a positive impact on the mental health outcomes of children and adolescents. A total of 24 relevant studies were reviewed, with the resulting evidence suggesting that when parents seek help for their children's mental health concerns, it can lead to improved outcomes, including reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression [50].…”

The role of the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in Early Help: Critical reflections from embedded social care research

“…To break the negative cycle of rising rates and associated costs of children in care, there are calls for more investment in preventative services that support parents when difficulties first emerge (House of Lords Public Services Committee, 2021). Yet, it has long been acknowledged that parents are reluctant to request early support due to fears about judgement from professionals (Burgess et al, 2014; Murphy et al, 2021). Studies mapping families' journeys to the edge of care also show that as well as specialist services (e.g., around mental health and addiction); parents/carers also value more informal types of practical support from trusted and reassuring people (Percy‐Smith & Dalrymple, 2018).…”