An Emotional Awareness Based Parenting Group for Parents with Mental Illness: A Mixed Methods Feasibility Study of Community Mental Health Nurse Facilitation
Section snippets
Aim
To explore the benefits of an emotional awareness based group parenting intervention for parents with mental illness and the feasibility of delivery within an adult public mental health service.
Method
A six session parenting group program based on ‘Tuning In to Kids’ was run in a community mental health setting. The group was facilitated by two mental health nurses (DP, FM) employed in adult mental health services to work with parents and children. Both facilitators were trained and experienced in delivering the program to both parents with mental illness and those without. The group was advertised within mental health services and referrals made directly or via a mental health clinician.
Practicalities
The group ran for 6 consecutive weeks in mid 2014. The group content was delivered in weekly two hour sessions, at the community health centre, with a morning tea break midway. Morning tea was provided by the mental health service, as was the use of the room, resources and facilitator time. Potential attendees were screened for a significant mental health issue requiring sustained mental health service engagement; and children in their care between the ages of 3 and 12.
There were 11
Discussion
Overall, parents displayed promising improvement across a number of domains of distress, emotional self awareness and parenting interactions. Parents self reported benefits and were observed by facilitators to alter some of their parenting perceptions and behaviours. The lack of follow up data impedes discussion of sustained change or benefit and highlights some additional challenges in running and evaluating groups for parents with mental illness. Without ongoing support, any improvements may
Limitations
This study had numerous limitations and does not claim to be conclusive or rigorous. The sample size was very small and cannot be assumed to be representative of parents with mental illness more broadly. Drop out participants were not followed up and no comparison group was established. A single site was used and self report data relied upon for accuracy. Neither longer term outcomes nor the experiences of children or other parenting family members were sought. Structures and existing resources
Conclusion
As identified by one participant in this study, parent-child dyads are reciprocal systems which have the potential to both negatively and positively influence both parental and child mental health. Parenting interventions aimed at strengthening emotional intuition, empathy and communication show potential in strengthening parent child relationships and functioning.
This small feasibility study of a group program demonstrated the difficulties in delivering group programs to parents with mental
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