An Analysis of Six Month Follow-Up Data from a Peer Parent Support Study

Area of Science:

• Mental Health
• Psychiatry
• Caregiver Support

Background:

• Caregiver well-being is crucial for child mental health outcomes.
• Peer-led programs offer accessible support for families navigating mental health challenges.
• Evaluating long-term program effectiveness is essential for evidence-based interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the 6-month post-program treatment outcomes of the NAMI Basics peer parent program.
• To examine the sustained impact of NAMI Basics on caregiver activation, help-seeking intentions, and child symptom trajectories.
• To identify delayed outcomes emerging after program completion.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study design with 52 caregivers participating in a larger trial.
• Data collection at baseline, immediately post-program, and 6 months after program completion.
• Growth curve modeling to analyze changes in parent activation, help-seeking intentions, child symptoms, service use, and parent stress.

Main Results:

• Improvements in parent activation and engagement were maintained at 6 months.
• Child intrapersonal distress decreased significantly and was maintained.
• Caregivers reported increased outpatient service use and reduced parenting stress and child symptoms at 6-month follow-up, with some outcomes emerging post-class.

Conclusions:

• The NAMI Basics program demonstrates sustained positive effects on caregivers and child outcomes 6 months post-intervention.
• Some program benefits, such as reduced stress and increased service utilization, may manifest with a delay.
• Findings support the long-term value of peer-led parent programs in mental health care.