Consumer Feedback following Participation in a Family-Based Intervention for Youth Mental Health

Abstract

Background. This paper presents findings derived from consumer feedback, following a multicentre randomised controlled trial for adolescent mental health problems and substance misuse. The paper focuses on the implementation of a family-based intervention, including fidelity of delivery, family members' experiences, and their suggestions for program improvements. Methods. Qualitative and quantitative data (n = 21) were drawn from the Deakin Family Options trial consumer focus groups, which occurred six months after the completion of the trial. Consumer focus groups were held in both metropolitan and regional locations in Victoria, Australia. Findings. Overall reductions in parental isolation, increases in parental self-care, and increased separation/individuation were the key therapeutic features of the intervention. Sharing family experiences with other parents was a key supportive factor, which improved parenting confidence and efficacy and potentially reduced family conflict. Consumer feedback also led to further development of the intervention, with a greater focus on aiding parents to engage adolescents in services and addressing family factors related to adolescent's mood and anxiety symptoms. Conclusions. Participant feedback provides valuable qualitative data, to monitor the fidelity of treatment implementation within a trial, to confirm predictions about the effective mechanisms of an intervention, and to inform the development of new interventions.

Reducing parental anxiety using a family based intervention for youth mental health: A randomized controlled trial

“…Overall these findings provide initial, albeit limited, support for this type of family based intervention as a potentially efficacious model for improving parent anxiety and attachment in parents of youth with high prevalence mental health conditions. Qualitative information gathered from parents in a post intervention focus group supported the preliminary quantitative findings of this study [13], relating to decreased parent stress and increased perceived coping in parents. Given the literature relating to high rates of stress and burnout in parents and carers, this study provides an important initial contribution as a potentially beneficial treatment for anxious parents of depressed, anxious and substance misusing youth.…”

“…Parents in the BEST Plus treatment discussed their difficulties with other parents experiencing similar issues, and in doing so, normalized their experiences. Qualitative information obtained from a consumer reference group held at the end of the project [13] suggested that the BEST Plus program had achieved this goal of offering a supportive environment, likely to alleviate parental anxiety symptoms. For example, participants reported enjoying the collegial atmosphere of the BEST Plus group, contributing their experiences to help others in the group, and receiving advice, understanding and support from other members.…”

“…For example, participants reported enjoying the collegial atmosphere of the BEST Plus group, contributing their experiences to help others in the group, and receiving advice, understanding and support from other members. Parents also described feeling less isolated through the sharing of experiences, which also helped to normalize the behaviour of their young person and reduce levels of self-blame and guilt [13]. A supportive therapeutic relationship such as this has been shown to be a key component of change across numerous psychotherapies, including psychoanalytic [65] and cognitive-behavioural approaches [66], amongst others [67].…”

“…A group who may be particularly at risk for poor mental health include the parents of adolescents or young adults with one or more common mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression and substance abuse [12]. Parents of youth with these concerns have commonly reported feelings of guilt and worry about whether they may be somehow at fault for their child's condition, uncertainty about how best to support their child, or confusion about locating and eliciting appropriate professional help [13].…”

“…Evaluations of the BEST Plus program found improved parental emotional dependence on adolescent behaviour to be associated with a reduction in negative stress symptoms, and that this reduction in parental stress, combined with siblings attending the program, contributed to improvements in cohesive family behaviour [46]. In the present Deakin Family Options pilot study, the BEST Plus program was evaluated with families where the youth (12 -25) were experiencing substance misuse, depression and/or anxiety symptoms, and the youth of concern was also invited to attend the final four sessions of the program along with their siblings and parents [13,47].…”