Functions of a group-based parenting program for parents of children with mental health issues-some observations from a tertiary care center

Abstract

Child and adolescent mental health issues have a wide prevalence and cause serious burden and stress to the psychosocial health of parents and caregivers. Psychosocial interventions have proved to be useful adjuncts to pharmacological treatment in childhood psychiatric conditions because of their long standing nature and psychosocial implications. The present paper aims to identify and enlist the benefits of one such group-based parenting program practiced in a mental health services inpatient setting. The paper borrows from the experiences and observations of a psychiatric social worker who has considerable experience in conducting such group sessions. The material recorded here helps in understanding that parents and caregivers perceive benefits of significant magnitude from regular group session inputs, which help them to deal with the mental health issues of their children, and which also turn out to be a source of support.

Keywords

• Group intervention
• group function
• parenting