Achieving therapeutic gains for regional youth with emergent mental health issues through parental family system–based groups: Findings from a qualitative study

Achieving therapeutic gains for regional youth with emergent mental health issues through parental family system–based groups: Findings from a qualitative study Journal Article

Australian Journal of Rural Health

• Author(s): Hurley, John, Lawler, Madeleine, Bray, Angeline, Oeding-Erdel, Nagina
• Published: 2020
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
• ISBN: 1038-5282

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Abstract: Objective This paper reports findings from a study that sought to better understand the experiences of parents and their children with emergent mental health challenges following the parent's participation in a nurse-led therapeutic group. Design This was an explorative qualitative study using semi-structured interviews which were then thematically analysed. Setting Findings from this single-site study are drawn from regional Australia. Participants Twenty parents and seven of their children aged between 13 and 24. Interventions Family systems based therapeutic group intervention delivered to the parents of young people attending headspace. Main outcome measure In line with qualitative research approaches, the participants lived experience was the outcome measure. Result Three key themes were found in the data: (a) improved parent-child relationships, (b) understanding and being understood and (c) multi-generational perspectives. Conclusion Regional and remote regions are challenged with comparatively fewer and less diverse services for youth mental health than in urban centres. Findings from this exploratory study highlight that young people can experience therapeutic gains where their parents are the recipients of the intervention. Recommendations from these findings include pursuing further research on the therapeutic gains of parental family system-based groups.

• Urls: https://doi.org/10.1111/ajr.12610
• Keywords: family-based interventions, headspace, regional mental health services, youth mental health