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). The course is being held in persons at Richmond but will also be streamed online via Zoom for participants who are not able to participate in person.

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 for the course
To register for the course scroll down to the end of this page and read the Eligibility and Selection criteria.
Registrations to be submitted by 1st April 2022 17.00 hrs.

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

Part 1 

Date: Tuesday 5th April 2022
Time: 09.30 AM– 12.30 PM

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

Facilitator: Dott.essa 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: Dott.essa 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: Wednesday 6th April 2022
Time: 09.30 AM– 12.30 PM

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

Facilitator: Dr 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: Dr 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

Online streaming:
The link to log in to follow the course online via Zoom will be sent to the registrants who cannot participate in person.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to take the course in person as much as possible since one will miss out on group discussions.

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

Selection:
Priority will be given to parents and guardians who’s children are receiving a service from one of the project partner organisations:
Richmond Foundation (Lead project partner)
OASI Foundation
The Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS)
Mental Health Services (Under the Ministry for Health)
Conservatorio Vincenzo Bugeja (Fejda and Jeanne Antide residential homes)

Course Fee:
The course is being offered free of charge, being part funded by ESF and co-financed by Richmond Foundation and Mental Health Services.

Registration
Click on this link to register for the course.
Registrations to be submitted by 1st April 2022 17.00 hrs.