Evaluating the Impact of a Family-Based Early Intervention Program for Supporting Youth Mental Health Challenges and Building Mental Health Literacy
Abstract
The mental health of children and youth is a growing concern, with many families facing challenges accessing timely, evidence-based care. The current study evaluates the impact and feasibility of the M.I.friends program, a free, online, family-based early intervention program aimed at supporting children with suspected mental health or behavioural challenges and improving parental mental health literacy (MHL). Using a mixed-methods pre-post design, the study assessed changes in parental MHL across five core domains and gathered qualitative insights through semi-structured interviews. A sample of eleven participants participated in the current research by engaging in at least one semi-structured interview, and seven parents completed all phases of data collection. Paired sample t-tests revealed improvements across all MHL domains, with a statistically significant gain in mental health first aid skills following Bonferroni adjustments. Participants also completed social validity measures in the post-program survey, reporting high relevance, satisfaction, and ease of use. Thematic analysis of interviews highlighted four key themes: desired outcomes and reasons for joining, importance of family-based early intervention, strategies and takeaways from the program, and overall acceptability of the current program. Findings suggest that the M.I.friends program is a promising, acceptable intervention that enhances parental understanding and equips families with strategies to support youth mental health, particularly at early stages of concern. Recommendations for program adaptations, as informed by participant insights, and directions for future research are discussed.