Poster Presentation:  “DBT-Informed Parenting Skills Program Supporting Improved Connections & Mental Health”

Presented at: Mental Health for All CMHA National Conference, Toronto ON Sept. 23-25 2019

 Strong network of supports enrich positive outcomes for adolescents transitioning into adulthood. Navigating the influences of technology can feel profoundly disconnecting and this period can lead to hospitalization for youth with complex mental health needs. Caregivers are often unsure of how to provide the continuity of care prescribed by the systems once their youth transition home. In our experience, caregivers are eager to gain skills to support their youth’s mental health through targeted programming. Literature and practice endorse multi-family/peer-to-peer support groups for parents/caregivers; the value of caregiver programs is underestimated in practice and remains a gap in research.

Our interprofessional collaborative team combines evidence-based program development with scientific research to meet this gap. The DBT-Informed program is an early intervention resource and mitigates future setbacks. These meaningful skills development opportunities promote collaborative care practices, strengthens clinician youth and parent/caregiver relationships, and enables parents/caregivers to manage their youth’s mental health while maintaining their own wellbeing.