Parental attitudes towards an online, school-based, mental health service: implications for service design and delivery

Objective: Parents are important facilitators of mental healthcare for their adolescent children. An online, school-based, mental health service may assist parents in gaining access to care. This study explored parental attitudes towards this new type of service provision. 

Method: The study was undertaken in July and August 2016. Semi-structured interviews were used to understand parents’ attitudes towards a proposed online, school-based service called Smooth Sailing. Themes were identified through thematic analysis. Fourteen parents were interviewed. 

Results: Seven key themes emerged. Parents’ own experiences seeking help and awareness of mental health services, their perceived prevalence of mental health issues in youth and the appropriateness of online and school-delivered care, the desire to be involved in their child’s care, alongside concerns about stigma, service trust and credibility, and the availability of face-to-face support, were all found to influence parents’ attitudes to the proposed service. 

Discussion: This study confirmed that parents have both positive and negative attitudes towards online, school-based mental health service provision. By understanding these attitudes, service providers are better equipped to develop strategies to mitigate concerns and promote engagement. In doing so, parents are likely to be more supportive of their child seeking help for mental health in the school setting.