GP209 Evaluating parent training programmes for self-harm – a five year investigation of the effectiveness of the SPACE (supporting parents and carers of young people with self-harm thoughts and behaviours) programme

• Published in: Archives of disease in childhood 2019-06, Vol.104 (Suppl 3), p.A115
• Main Authors: Engel, Carla, Boylan, Carole, McKenna, Tessa, Morgan, Sophia, Reulbach, Udo, Barrett, Elizabeth
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Child Rearing; Children; Children & youth; Childrens health; Communication; Educational Finance; Families & family life; Family Relationship; Parents; Parents & parenting; Pediatrics; Prognosis; Self-injury; Social interactions; Social support; Well being; Young Adults
• ISSN: 0003-9888; 1468-2044
• DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2019-epa.268

BackgroundThe family plays a pivotal role in the positive prognosis of young people who self-harm. However, parents and carers often feel ill-equipped to help their young person and are in need of support. The SPACE programme, a psycho-educational support group intervention, was developed by Children’s University Hospital, Temple Street in Dublin, Ireland. It aims to empower parents to support their children through education, peer-support and skills development.Aims and hypothesisPrevious pilot studies have revealed positive findings for the SPACE (Supporting Parents And Carers) programme as a clinical intervention for self-harm. Consequently, the present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the SPACE programme over a five year period in a real-world setting to determine its applicability and generalizability. Based on previous findings, it was hypothesised that participants’ overall well-being would improve, evidenced by significant changes in levels of psychological distress, parenting satisfaction, perceived social support, and family communication. It was also hypothesised that the child’s wellbeing would improve, evidenced by a lowering in total difficulties for the child as rated by the parent.MethodsA repeated-measures design with 260 participants was employed. Participants were parents and carers who attended the SPACE programme from 2013–2018. The effectiveness of SPACE was evaluated across five outcomes: psychological distress, parenting satisfaction, family communication, perceived social support, and parent-rated strengths and difficulties of the child. Questionnaires were administered at baseline, post-intervention and at three-month follow-up.ResultsData revealed significant reductions in participant psychological distress and parent-rated difficulties of the young person. Analysis also showed an increase in parental satisfaction. Perceived social support and family communication scores remained unchanged throughout.ConclusionsData from both pilot and real-world studies suggest that the SPACE programme may be an effective clinical intervention to improve parent and child well-being, and may consequently contribute to improving prognosis for children who self-harm. Additionally, this evidence provides further support to the development of a clinical manual for the SPACE programme, with the aim of expanding its accessibility nationally and globally.