{
  "abstract": "Background Previous research has shown that the parents of children and young people (CYP) with mental health conditions often demonstrate poorer mental well-being, 1 with parents of hospitalised CYP reporting particularly high levels of stress.2 However, few studies have explored the specific factors contributing to parents’ mental well-being within inpatient settings.Objectives This study aimed to extend the existing clinical literature by examining whether parents’ and carers’ mental well-being varied across CYP diagnostic categories, determining whether the degree of functional impairment of their child was associated with their well-being, and by identifying the most prevalent stressors for parents and carers during the time of their child’s admission. Methodology The study was carried out as a service evaluation and audit. Secondary analysis was conducted using data from parents of CYP aged 9–15 years (N = 39) who had a child admitted to a UK Children’s Mental Health Inpatient Unit and had completed the Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA) at admission. The measures included the Everyday Feelings Questionnaire (EFQ), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and the Family Stresses Questionnaire.Results Parents’ mental well-being, as measured by the EFQ, was consistently low across all diagnostic categories (Mean = 23.2). There were no significant differences across the diagnostic categories. There was a non-significant positive association between CYP’s functional impairment and parents’ mental well-being (r(37) = 0.31, p = .06). The most frequently reported family stressors were time pressure, work-related problems, and illness of another family member.Conclusions The results align with prior research indicating reduced parents’ mental well-being during child hospitalisation. This highlights the need for more attention and support to parents and carers, along with treating CYP with mental health conditions in inpatient settings. Larger, multi-site studies are needed to validate these findings and inform the development of tailored interventions.Acknowledgements for Funding or Support Dr Dawn Cutler, Doctoral Clinical Academic Research Fellow, NIHR315205, is funded by Health Education England (HEE)/NIHR. All research at Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health is made possible by the NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR, UCL, NHS or the UK Department of Health and Social Care.References Weller BE, Faulkner M, Doyle O, Daniel SS, Goldston DB. Impact of patients’ psychiatric hospitalization on caregivers: a systematic review. Psychiatric Services 2015 May;66(5):527–35.Ronan GF, Dreer LE, Gerhart JI. Adolescent psychiatric patients and their parents: Comparison with a non-clinical cohort. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health 2008 Dec 1;20(4).",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University College London, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Yaxuan Liu"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Eirini Koutoumanou"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Sacha Evans"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Dawn Cutler"
    }
  ],
  "title": "83 The wellbeing of parents and carers during their child’s admission to hospital for mental health treatment: A retrospective audit",
  "uid": "d3d0707c-3272-5395-8a45-89f221417bf3"
}