Parental-Group Interventions for Parents of Children with Mental Health Problems Admitted in a Tertiary Care Center: An Experience from India

BACKGROUND: Families play a critical role in their children's development and learning. Parents' understanding of their child's illness has a significant impact on the parent–child relationship and helps them to have realistic expectations. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to understand the use of parental-group intervention for making parents understand the problems of the children and to develop skills to deal with the problems. METHODS: A six-session parental-group intervention module was developed and tested. Data from the group session were collected for 6 months and have been analyzed. RESULTS: Majority of the parents appreciated the intervention program as it led to skill-building and understanding of the mental health problems among children. Demonstration was liked most of the parents (74) parenting skills and stress management (71 parents); 68 parents liked session on school-related issues; 60 parents liked session on developmental disorders; 54 parents liked session on emotional and behavioral problems. CONCLUSION: Group-based parenting programs are found to be effective in improving the overall psychosocial health of parents and the emotional and behavioral problems of children and adolescents as a result of better parenting.