This presentation presents findings from a funded study measuring the efficacy of 'The Lighthouse Program', an online training programme for parents, carers and supporters of 10–13-year-olds with unmet mental health needs in rural, regional and remote settings.
Our recent published scoping review identified four remedial strategies used internationally to address specialist workforce shortages. These included digital and role shifting solutions, where non specialist stakeholders are trained in mental health capabilities. 'The Lighthouse Program' sought to develop and then test the efficacy of a role shifting and digital strategy in 2024 within the North Coast PHN region.
The 6-week online training included a dedicated website with diverse and interactive learning strategies supported by weekly online group meetings. Content was designed through a pilot and then stakeholder informed process.
Aims: i) evaluate the reach and effectiveness of the programme for parents, carers, and supporters of children (aged 10-13 years) residing in rural/regional, communities and ii), identify the mechanisms through which the online course provides outcomes.
Methods: Mixed method pre - post-test study design of N=75. Measures used include the Brief Parental Self Efficacy Scale with an adapted version for teacher participants; Child Parent Relationship Scale with an adapted version for teacher participants; GENOS emotional intelligence measure for emotional regulation; Brief Resilience Scale and the WHO 5 Scale. Additional Likert scale items measured attitudes and knowledge about child mental health and confidence in accessing services. Qualitative data was collected through semi structured interviews of N= 21.
Findings: Both quantitative and qualitative results suggest 'The Lighthouse Program' is an effective and low-cost strategy to improve stakeholder’s knowledge, attitudes and therapeutic capabilities for unmet mental health needs of rural and regional children aged 10-13 years.
This project was funded by the Rural Mental Health Partnership Grant Small Project Grants (Peregrine Centre).