A Course for Parents and Guardians as Partners in Promoting Positive Mental Health with Youngsters (focus on Depression, Anxiety, Self-harm, Substance use, misuse and abuse).

Mental health problems affect about 1 in 10 children and young people. They include depression, anxiety and conduct disorder, and are often a direct response to what is happening in their lives. Alarmingly, however, 70% of children and young people who experience a mental health problem have not had appropriate interventions at a sufficiently early age.

“Half of all mental illnesses begin by the age of 14 and three-quarters by mid-20s. Neuropsychiatric conditions are the leading cause of disability in young people. If untreated, these conditions severely influence children’s development, their educational attainments and their potential to live fulfilling and productive lives. Children with mental disorders face major challenges with stigma, isolation and discrimination, as well as lack of access to health care and education facilities, in violation of their fundamental human rights” (WHO).

The emotional wellbeing of children is just as important as their physical health. Good mental health allows children and young people to develop the resilience to cope with life challenges and grow into well-rounded, healthy adults. ‘Successful improvement of health at key life stages requires a continuum of interventions across the life-course, combined with efforts to strengthen health delivery systems and address the broader social and economic determinants of health’. (Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe)

Mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, and self-harm are often linked with difficulties regulating emotion on a day-to-day basis (Mc Cay & Aiello, 2010).

Mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, and self-harm are often linked with difficulties regulating emotion on a day-to-day basis.  (Mc Cay & Aiello, 2010)

This course is designed to support parents, guardians and families of youth who experience mental health issues (the focus will be on depression, anxiety, self-harm and substance use, misuse and abuse)  and will aim to create a deeper understanding of these conditions as well as identify helpful ways of ‘showing up’ that will support a positive relationship with the youngster. It will also focus on strategies related to supporting young persons to take control over symptoms linked to the mental health conditions mentioned above. Families will learn how to cope with fears and worries, identify triggers, as well as how to relax the mind and body and maximize their self-confidence in supporting their family member who is experiencing the mental health condition. It will also highlight ways of maintaining boundaries and self-care in order to maintain overall wellbeing.

REGISTER HERE
Registrations to be submitted by 21st October 2022.

The following are the interactive lectures which will make up the overall course:

Part 1 

Date: 25th October 2022
Time: 5.00 – 8.00 PM

Overview on Depression, Anxiety, Self-harm, and Substance Use, Misuse, Abuse (causes; signs and symptoms; types and treatments) (1.5 hrs)

Facilitator: Ms Veronica Ellul

 The participants will leave the course with the following:

• An understanding of what mental health is
• Knowledge of the role of life events, personal factors and changes in the brain linked to mental health conditions
• Knowledge of the behaviours, feelings and thoughts associated with depression, anxiety, self- harm and substance use, misuse and abuse
• Psychological and medical treatments and other forms of support linked to the conditions

Boundaries and self-care for families of youth experiencing mental health difficulties (1.5hrs)

Facilitator: Veronica Ellul

The participant will leave the course with the following:

• Understanding why setting boundaries is a crucial part of mental health and wellbeing
• Knowledge about both physical and emotional boundaries and what constitutes healthy boundaries
• Learning that showing compassion and kindness to oneself is crucial in setting healthy boundaries.

Part 2

Date: 8th November 2022
Time: 5.00 – 8.00 PM

The role of emotional regulation in supporting mental wellbeing (1.5 hrs)

Facilitator: Mr Daniel Mercieca

The learner will leave the course with the following:

• An understanding of what it means to regulate emotions in a healthy manner
• Knowledge that emotion regulation is not merely important when aiming to alleviate symptoms, but also when striving for the improvement of well-being.
• Understanding of the specific emotion regulation strategies of acceptance and reappraisal and how they are significantly positively related with well-being

Helpful strategies to use in order to support young persons suffering from depression, anxiety, self-harm and substance use, misuse and abuse. (1.5 hrs)

Facilitator: Mr Daniel Mercieca

The participant will leave the course with the following:

• Understanding that there are a range of strategies one can try out in order to manage mental health conditions
• What works is different for everyone, and it can take time to find the strategies that work best for each individual.
• Understanding that the specific emotion regulation strategies of acceptance and reappraisal are significantly positively related with well-being
• Strategies that have been found to help youngsters experiencing depression, anxiety, self-harm and substance use, misuse and abuse
• Learn how to cope with fears and worries, identify triggers, as well as how to relax the mind and body and maximize their self-confidence in supporting their family member who is experiencing the mental health condition

Course Venue:
Richmond Foundation Training Centre
MCE House, Triq L-Industrija,
Qormi, QRM 3000, Malta

Eligibility:
The course is open to parents and guardians of young people.

Course Fee:
The course is being offered free of charge, being funded by ComeOn Group as part of a CSR project.

REGISTER HERE

Registrations to be submitted by 21st October 2022.