Reducing adolescent mental health problems and violence against children
Reducing adolescent mental health problems and violence against children by promoting universal access to positive parenting support through human-digital parenting programs in Mexico
About this project
Mexico
5 years
Principal Investigators
Dr. Jamie Lachman, Nancy Amador
Co-Investigators
Maxwell Klapow, Guadalupe Ramirez, Lucy Vasquez
Partners
The Ramon de la Fuente Muñiz National Institue of Psychiatry, UNICEF, Sistema Nacional DIF, Secretería de Bienestar, Parenting for Lifelong Health
Overview
ParentText has not been previously adapted for the Mexican context, and this study aims to investigate the implementation feasibility, programme acceptability, and factors affecting engagement in this new context. Additionally, this project will study how mental health content can be integrated into a parenting programme to improve psychological well-being for parents and adolescents. The overall aim of this project is to test a model of integrative delivery and build a foundation for the scale-up of evidence-based playful parenting support within existing delivery systems to reduce child, adolescent, and caregiver mental health problems and violence against children and adolescents in Mexico. In alignment with UNICEF and the Mexican government's parenting support priorities, this project aims to partner with SNDIF, Bienestar Ministry, and other institutions to scale adapted versions of a hybrid in-person PLH-YC and Teens program and remote support through ParentText to 160 families in four states.
Context
In Mexico, 63.1% of families use coercive disciplinary practices, including physical punishment (37.8%), severe punishment (5.9%), and psychological aggression (over 50%) (National Institute of Public Health and UNICEF, 2016). The 2015 MICS found that about half of children aged 0-14 experience physical punishment and psychological aggression (UNICEF, 2017). Around 15% of children experience mental health problems, with significant numbers in inpatient (6%) and outpatient units (27%) (Secretaría de Salud, 2010; PAHO and WHO, 2011). Quality parenting is crucial for child and adolescent mental health, with nurturing and responsive parenting protecting against adverse outcomes and promoting healthy development, while harsh parenting is a public health concern with negative impacts (Jeong et al., 2021; Hillis et al., 2016). International agencies highlight the importance of programs promoting positive parent-child interactions, emphasizing cultural adaptation (UNODC, 2013; Niec et al., 2014). Thus, developing scalable solutions within the Mexican public health system to simultaneously support positive parenting and positive mental health is critical for foundational support to Mexican families.
Objectives
Understand the content and delivery considerations for adapting ParentText to the Mexican public health system. Co-design novel content to promote the psychological well-being of parents and adolescents Evaluate the implementation feasibility and program acceptability in preparation for scale.
Project Setting
This pilot will be delivered to families receiving services from SNDIF and Bienestar in 4 states: Mexico City, Michoacán, Chihuahua, and Baja California.
Significance and Wider Impact:
This project is the first investigation into designing novel content to support positive mental health within a Parenting for Lifelong Health programme. Our findings will help public health institutions within Mexico and beyond identify ways to integrate highly scalable, light-touch interventions into single offerings that can support multiple outcomes. Upon conclusion of the pilot and scale-up, this project aims to provide positive parenting and positive mental health support to tens of thousands of families throughout Mexico.
