Keeping future implementation in mind: Developing a therapist-assisted parent-delivered mental health intervention for children in South Africa
1
Psychology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
2
Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2572
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
There is a significant gap between the mental health needs of children and available services in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like South Africa. Task-sharing approaches could help reach more children. One way to do this is to develop mental health interventions delivered by parents. Research shows that parents in high-income countries can be assisted to deliver Cognitive Behaviour Therapy-based interventions to their children. However, much less is known about such interventions in LMICs. This presentation focuses on what experts in the field and experts by experience think about developing a parent-delivered mental health intervention for children in South Africa.
METHODS:
This study was a cross-sectional, qualitative, exploratory study conducted in partnership with a local non-governmental organization (NGO), Community Keepers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 participants. Interviews were conducted in Afrikaans and/or English, audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and uploaded onto ATLAS.ti version 23 for analysis. The data were coded inductively and deductively using a process of reflexive thematic analysis.
RESULTS:
We identified five themes from the data: 1) The complexities of working with parents as voiced by mental health practitioners; 2) The value in developing a therapist-assisted parent-delivered mental health intervention for children in South Africa; 3) How to address barriers that might make it difficult for parents to work with mental health practitioners; 4) What the intervention should focus on; and 5) What parents need from mental health practitioners. Based on these findings five single session consultations are being developed.
CONCLUSIONS:
These findings highlight the importance of consulting experts in the field and experts by experience to develop evidence-based, culturally sensitive, context-specific mental health interventions for children. When working with a reputable NGO, such as Community Keepers, task-sharing approaches such as parent-delivered mental health interventions for children could potentially be delivered at scale in South Africa.
There is a significant gap between the mental health needs of children and available services in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like South Africa. Task-sharing approaches could help reach more children. One way to do this is to develop mental health interventions delivered by parents. Research shows that parents in high-income countries can be assisted to deliver Cognitive Behaviour Therapy-based interventions to their children. However, much less is known about such interventions in LMICs. This presentation focuses on what experts in the field and experts by experience think about developing a parent-delivered mental health intervention for children in South Africa.
METHODS:
This study was a cross-sectional, qualitative, exploratory study conducted in partnership with a local non-governmental organization (NGO), Community Keepers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 participants. Interviews were conducted in Afrikaans and/or English, audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and uploaded onto ATLAS.ti version 23 for analysis. The data were coded inductively and deductively using a process of reflexive thematic analysis.
RESULTS:
We identified five themes from the data: 1) The complexities of working with parents as voiced by mental health practitioners; 2) The value in developing a therapist-assisted parent-delivered mental health intervention for children in South Africa; 3) How to address barriers that might make it difficult for parents to work with mental health practitioners; 4) What the intervention should focus on; and 5) What parents need from mental health practitioners. Based on these findings five single session consultations are being developed.
CONCLUSIONS:
These findings highlight the importance of consulting experts in the field and experts by experience to develop evidence-based, culturally sensitive, context-specific mental health interventions for children. When working with a reputable NGO, such as Community Keepers, task-sharing approaches such as parent-delivered mental health interventions for children could potentially be delivered at scale in South Africa.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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