New digital platform to help parents detect children’s mental distress earlier
Help is on the way for parents whose child shows signs of mental distress. Researchers at the National Institute of Public Health are developing an online platform with research-based advice and guidance. The aim is to support early detection.
When parents begin to suspect that their child is struggling, they often turn first to Google. Every month, nearly 39,000 searches are made in Denmark related to children’s wellbeing and distress – covering everything from school refusal and bullying to diagnoses such as ADHD and autism.
According to Professor Trine Flensborg-Madsen from the National Institute of Public Health, these figures reflect a great need for advice and guidance.
“Online, you can find all sorts of things – both facts and random advice. Parents can easily end up lost in a jungle of conflicting and unreliable information, and in the worst case, they may be led in the wrong direction. That is why we need knowledge that is research- and evidence-based, and at the same time practical and actionable,” she says.
Trine Flensborg-Madsen is leading a new project in which researchers from the National Institute of Public Health, in collaboration with experts from the Centre for Digital Psychiatry, are developing a digital platform.
Built on research
The working title of the platform is ParentHelper, and its goal is to make it easier for parents to detect mental distress at an earlier stage.
The need is significant. Research shows that at least 16 percent of all children will experience mental health problems or psychiatric disorders before the age of 10. Yet it often takes years before children receive professional help. More than half of all children referred to psychiatry have shown signs of distress for up to five years.
“Research shows that the earlier challenges are detected, the greater the chance that the child can be supported back to wellbeing. That is why we need preventive efforts that help parents act sooner – even at the very first signs,” says Trine Flensborg-Madsen.
Developed together with parents
ParentHelper will be a free, public platform that – if everything goes as planned – will be launched on Sundhed.dk next year. The content will be based on the latest research and knowledge and developed in close collaboration with parents, so their experiences and needs become an integral part of the project.
“The design, the language and the way the content is presented are crucial if parents are actually to use the platform. That’s why the content is being developed with a focus on usability, relevance and accessible language. Parents are involved from the very beginning – both in developing the content and in testing the platform,” explains Trine Flensborg-Madsen.
Themes such as school refusal, bullying, social relationships, anxiety, screen use and eating habits may be among the topics covered on the platform. The guidance will be concrete and practical: How should parents respond to signs of distress in everyday life? Where can they seek help? And how can they interpret signals such as school absence, changes in mood, or difficulties making friends?
“We want to give parents a kind of first aid to navigate a difficult situation and help them act more quickly when their child faces challenges. Our goal is for ParentHelper to become the first place parents turn when they are in doubt,” says Trine Flensborg-Madsen.
The project is supported by the Centre for Childhood Health.
Contact: Professor Trine Flensborg-Madsen, Phone: +45 6550 9361, Email: tfl@sdu.dk, National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark