An Online Intervention to Promote Mental Health and Wellbeing for Young Adults Whose Parents Have Mental Illness and/or Substance Use Problems: Theoretical Basis and Intervention Description

Abstract

The transition to adulthood can be a vulnerable period for certain population groups. In particular, young adults aged 18–25 years who have a parent with mental illness and/or substance use problems face increased risks to their mental health compared to same aged peers. Yet these young adults may not have access to age-appropriate, targeted interventions, nor engage with traditional face-to-face health services. To support this vulnerable group, services need to engage with them in environments where they are likely to seek help, such as the Internet. This paper describes the risk mechanisms for this group of young adults, and the theoretical and empirical basis, aims, features and content of a tailored online group intervention; mi.spot ( m ental i llness: s upportive, p reventative, o nline, t argeted). The participatory approach employed to design the intervention is described. This involved working collaboratively with stakeholders (i.e., young adults, clinicians, researchers and website developers). Implementation considerations and future research priorities for an online approach targeting this group of young adults conclude the paper.

A Web-Based Intervention for Young Adults Whose Parents Have a Mental Illness or Substance Use Concern: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

“…A reference group was formed to guide intervention development, consisting of expert clinicians, researchers, and young adults with lived experience. Drawing on the known risk and resilience factors for this particular group of young adults [20], the intervention aims to improve psychoeducation; increase adaptive coping, connectedness, and knowledge about healthy relationships; encourage help-seeking behaviors; decrease feelings of attribution about their parent's illness; and foster well-being and mental health (refer to the paper by Reupert et al [21] for further details regarding the theoretical background and empirical rationale for the intervention).…”

“…The data collection methods were developed and refined for acceptability from a previous pilot [21]. All participants will complete measures before randomization and at equivalent time frames post intervention and follow-up.…”

Working with Rural Families: Issues and Responses When a Family Member Has a Mental Illness

“…For rural and remote youth, online support might be especially advantageous. Most online interventions for these youth are available in the Netherlands (see, e.g., Drost et al 2011) with another having been recently developed in Australia (Reupert et al 2018).…”

Comment soutenir la résilience des jeunes en transition vers l'âge adulte qui ont un parent atteint d'un trouble mental ? Ce qu'en pensent les jeunes concernés

“…ex., Mordoch et Hall, 2008;Trondsen, 2012), auprès d'adultes rapportant leur expérience de façon rétrospective (p. ex., Metz et Jungbauer, 2021;Neziroglu et al, 2020;Reupert et al, 2019) ou encore auprès d'échantillons d'âges très variés sans tenir compte des spécificités développementales (p. ex., Bosch et al, 2017;Dam et Hall, 2016;Simpson-Adkins et Daiches, 2018;Yamamoto et Keogh, 2018).…”