Evaluating the effectiveness of an online gatekeeper resource for parents and caregivers to support their child’s mental health.

Recognise, Respond and Support – A Parent’s Guide to Youth Mental Health is a newly developed digital mental health and suicide gatekeeper resource, which was designed to assist parents and caregivers to support their child’s mental health. This interactive digital resource is targeted to parents and caregivers of young people aged 5-17 years and provides evidence-based information, lived experience perspectives and help-seeking guidance and resources. Taking between 60 and 90 minutes to complete, the resource consists of three key components: Recognise, Respond and Support. Users can choose to complete the resource over one or multiple sittings during a 4-week period. The Recognise section aims to provide parents and caregivers with the knowledge to recognise mental health problems or suicide risk in their child and assist them in identifying when external professional help may be needed. This component of the resource begins with a brief introduction to mental health, the well to unwell mental health continuum and potential risk factors for poor mental health. Specific information is then provided on anxiety, depression, self-harm and suicide, the presentation of these conditions in children and adolescents, and how to identify when help may be needed. The Respond component is designed to provide parents and caregivers with guidance on what to do if they have concerns about their child’s mental health and how to respond to a disclosure of suicide or psychological distress. This section provides information and strategies on preparing for and initiating a conversation with their child, including tips from young people, what to do if the young person doesn’t want to talk, specific guidance on asking about and responding to disclosures of self-harm and suicide, and safety planning. The Support component of the resource aims to provide parents with information and step-by-step guidance on accessing professional help and support for their child’s mental health and what to do in a crisis situation. This section of the resource begins with an acknowledgement of common reactions parents and caregivers may experience upon learning of mental health difficulties in their child. Information on key mental health professionals is provided, as well as guidance on accessing support from the child’s school and strategies to create a supportive home environment that facilitates open discussions about mental health. The importance of looking after self while managing child mental health difficulties is also emphasised. Downloadable information sheets (summarising key information presented in the resource) are available throughout the resource and direct links to these are provided at its conclusion. The resource was designed in consultation with parents and caregivers to ensure it met their needs and is only currently available to trial participants. Resource backend data will be used to assess intervention adherence, as well as self-reported use of the resource.