Promoting Mental Health in Toddlers: A Parent Education Video Series for Families from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds
Tracks
Ballroom 2 - In Person Only
| Wednesday, March 20, 2024 |
| 1:55 PM - 2:15 PM |
Overview
Associate Professor Jane Kohlhoff, University of New South Wales
Speaker
Associate Professor Jane Kohlhoff
Associate Professor
University Of New South Wales
Promoting Mental Health in Toddlers: A Parent Education Video Series for Families from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds
Abstract
1 in 7 Australian children experience mental health disorders. One of the strongest predictors is the quality of the early caregiving environment, and the first two years of life offer the best opportunities for prevention. Currently, there is a lack of evidence-based parenting education programs suitable for universal distribution, accessible to all families including those from non-English speaking backgrounds.
In this presentation, we will describe a project conducted across 2023 that developed a series of video-based educational resources designed specifically for families with young toddlers (10-24 months). A central aim was to make the videos relevant and accessible for parents from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (e.g., Arabic, Vietnamese). The animated video series, known as ‘My Toddler and Me’, seeks to normalise toddlerhood and educate parents about practical ways to promote toddler emotional wellbeing and mental health. Using an attachment theory framework, the videos cover topics including: 1) using positive parenting skills to promote play, development, and positive parent-child relationships, 2) using strategies to support toddler emotional regulation, 3) emotion regulation and self-care for parents, and 4) ways to support healthy and positive toddler exploration and development.
The project was conducted over two phases. In Phase 1, the videos were developed/co-designed with English, Arabic and Vietnamese speaking parents and health professionals to ensure relevance, cultural sensitivity, and acceptability. The final video series was developed in collaboration with a professional animation company and translated into Vietnamese and Arabic. In Phase 2, a series of focus groups were conducted with English, Arabic and Vietnamese speaking parents to evaluate the final video series and explore avenues for implementation in a diverse range of clinical and community settings across Australia.
Future plans include translations in other languages, and a randomized controlled trial and implementation evaluation to inform scaling.
In this presentation, we will describe a project conducted across 2023 that developed a series of video-based educational resources designed specifically for families with young toddlers (10-24 months). A central aim was to make the videos relevant and accessible for parents from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (e.g., Arabic, Vietnamese). The animated video series, known as ‘My Toddler and Me’, seeks to normalise toddlerhood and educate parents about practical ways to promote toddler emotional wellbeing and mental health. Using an attachment theory framework, the videos cover topics including: 1) using positive parenting skills to promote play, development, and positive parent-child relationships, 2) using strategies to support toddler emotional regulation, 3) emotion regulation and self-care for parents, and 4) ways to support healthy and positive toddler exploration and development.
The project was conducted over two phases. In Phase 1, the videos were developed/co-designed with English, Arabic and Vietnamese speaking parents and health professionals to ensure relevance, cultural sensitivity, and acceptability. The final video series was developed in collaboration with a professional animation company and translated into Vietnamese and Arabic. In Phase 2, a series of focus groups were conducted with English, Arabic and Vietnamese speaking parents to evaluate the final video series and explore avenues for implementation in a diverse range of clinical and community settings across Australia.
Future plans include translations in other languages, and a randomized controlled trial and implementation evaluation to inform scaling.
Biography
Jane Kohlhoff is an Associate Professor in the University of New South Wales, School of Clinical Medicine, Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, and Director of Research at Karitane, Australia. Dr Kohlhoff conducts clinical and translational research in the area of perinatal, infant and early childhood mental health. She has interests in attachment theory and clinical applications, early intervention, and the roles of early environmental and biological factors in the intergenerational transmission of psychopathology. She has published widely in the area, with over 80 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters.
