Original Title: Unterstützung von Kindern mit psychisch erkrankten Eltern in Tirol

Authors' objectives: Our project goal was to co-develop, implement and evaluate an identification and support programme for affected families. It was important for us to take into account both international evidence and the Tyrolean initial situation, such as concrete gaps in care. The participatory development of the Village concept in the form of a research-practice partnership was a central component of the project. It made it possible to involve different relevant organisations and professional groups and, above all, to include the perspective of people with lived experience. The participation process should enable the development of a programme that is relevant and sustainable for Tyrolean needs.

Authors' results and conclusions: Our findings indicate that the Village Programme brought about positive developments in the participating families. For individual parents and children, the changes, even if minimal, had a great meaning. The concept has the potential to positively influence the mental health of both, starting with communication and family relationships, and ending with knowledge about mental illness. Unwanted consequences (e.g. relationship breakdowns with friends), on the other hand, were hardly reported. A limiting factor is that this is a feasibility study. In this type of pilot study, there is no comparison group and a small number of participants. Therefore, we cannot draw any definite conclusions about the effectiveness, but we do see positive trends.

Authors' methods: Across six workshops, representatives from 14 Tyrolean organisations from the health, social and educational sectors, as well as two adults with lived experience, developed a programme concept together with the research team. The participants assessed this participation process as predominantly positive. In addition, a group of young adults who grew up with mentally ill parents gave regular feedback on the results of the workshops. The concept developed is to discuss with patients who are being treated for a mental illness whether they have children and how they and the children are coping with the situation (screening). A short, standardised questionnaire serves as a support. The approach of reaching the children through the treated parents was supported by social insurance data from 2017, which showed that about 50,000 adults up to 64 years of age used psychiatric/psychotherapeutic services financed by the regional health insurance in Tyrol. If the screening interview reveals that patients have underage children, they are of fered the opportunity to participate in a support programme as a family free of charge. They are contacted by so-called village facilitators who accompany them in the programme. In the course of the support programme, the coordinators discuss the everyday situation and support needs with the parents and children in a process lasting several months. They identify important reference persons for the children (e.g. relatives) and persons from the parents’ social network (e.g. neighbours). This information forms the basis for an accompanied family meeting and a subsequent so-called network meeting, aiming to strengthen the network around the child. The parents, children and invited persons from their social environment consider, facilitated by the coordinator, who could help when crisis situations arise, or who can provide regular support in order to avoid future overburdening. A few weeks later, a reflection takes place and, if necessary, the agreements are adjusted. Due to Covid 19, an online version was developed for individual components of the programme.

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: https://aihta.at/en/forschungsprogramme/annual-research-programme-2020/supporting-children-who-have-a-parent-with-a-mental-illness-in-tyrol

Year Published: 2022

URL for published report: https://eprints.aihta.at/1629/1/HTA-Projektbericht_Nr.147.pdf

URL for additional information: https://eprints.aihta.at/1629/

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Full HTA

Country: Austria

Organisation Name: Austrian Institute for Health Technology Assessment

Contact Address: Josefstaedter Strasse 39, A-1080 Vienna, Austria

Contact Name: office@aihta.at

Contact Email: office@aihta.at