Innovations in the Identification and Referral of Mothers at Risk for Depression: Development of a Peer-to-Peer Model

Abstract

This paper describes a feasibility study of a peer-delivered prevention intervention to identify mothers at high risk for depression and facilitate engagement in mental health services for their emotional health. Sixteen family peer advocates and their supervisors partnered with academic researchers over a period of six months to develop a four-session intervention that focused on identifying symptoms of depression, providing education about depression and treatment, actively linking caregivers to treatment for their own emotional health, and assisting caregivers in becoming active participants in their mental health care. Collaborating with peers to develop the model enhanced its perceived relevance and utility, and resulted in an intervention that was complimentary to their roles and the mission of peer-delivered support services. Peer/professional partnerships may be beneficial for enhancing the feasibility and acceptability of research efforts; the impact of peers’ participation in the current project and the need for future research to develop and study peer-delivered models is discussed.

Maternal Depression and Parenting Practices Predict Treatment Outcome in Italian Children with Disruptive Behavior Disorder

“…Unfortunately, most intervention programs are prevalently focused on changing parenting practices rather than maternal depression per se (Garland et al 2008). We hypothesize that managing maternal depression prior to or during the multi-component intervention may improve the mother's participation in the treatment process, and consequently may positively affect the treatment outcome (Acri et al 2014). Although there are efficacious treatments for major depression in adults, few studies have examined the extent to which improving or remitting maternal depression may beneficially impact children's outcomes (Coiro et al 2012).…”

Parent Depression and Anger in Peer-Delivered Parent Support Services

“…The question of whether or not non-professionally trained peer parents can be successfully trained to recognize and link parents with mental health needs remains to be tested. A training curriculum developed for peer parents to do this currently is being tested (Acri et al, 2013). …”

Examining the Feasibility and Acceptability of a Screening and Outreach Model Developed for a Peer Workforce

“…The perceived fit of SEE may be due to developing the intervention in full partnership with the peers and their supervisors. As described in a previous paper (Acri, Olin, Burton, Herman, & Hoagwood, 2013), we adopted a community-based collaborative model as described by McKay, Bell, and Blake (2010), which rationalizes power and shared decision-making among key stakeholders, trust, and encourages ongoing opportunities for communication based upon commitment to honest exchanges and willingness to raise concerns without blame. The collaborative approach undertaken to build SEE may have enhanced providers’ comfort with the content, as it was tailored in a way that was in accordance to the peer’s role.…”

“…The intervention, entitled Screening, Education, and Empowerment (SEE), consists of four topics administered in four weekly sessions; 1) screening mothers for depression using a standardized instrument, the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), 2) providing education about depression and treatment, 3) facilitating active linkages to mental health services and reviewing what to anticipate at the caregiver’s first appointment, and, 4) empowering caregivers to become active participants in their mental health care. Each topic is added onto the mother’s regularly scheduled session with a FPA (see Acri et al, 2013, for a description of this phase of the study and the intervention). At the conclusion of the first phase, 11 FPAs were trained to recruit caregivers and deliver the intervention.…”

“…Consequently in 2010, the authors developed a screening and referral intervention to detect depressive symptoms in a non-mental health setting and facilitate engagement into treatment (Acri et al, 2013). The impetus to develop a peer-delivered screening and outreach intervention was undertaken for several reasons; 1) the high rates of depression among mothers of children with mental health needs, 2) considerable rates of under identification and limited engagement in mental health services; 3) a growing population of peers in child-serving systems, providing access to mothers; and, critically, 4) need, as family peer advocates were concerned that the mothers with whom they were working were evidencing feelings of distress, yet they lacked the skills and training to appropriately address their emotional health (Cavaleri et al, 2010).…”