How could an evidence-informed postal subscription programme aiming to improve children's mental health and wellbeing work in practice?

Kane Baker; Maria Loades; Vuokko Wallace

doi:10.1016/j.mhp.2022.200255

How could an evidence-informed postal subscription programme aiming to improve children's mental health and wellbeing work in practice?

Kane Baker, Maria Loades, Vuokko Wallace

Department of Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (SciVal)

Abstract

Background
Difficulties impacting mental wellbeing often start in childhood, and universal prevention programmes are gaining attention as a scalable method to mitigate early risks. Send Me Sunshine is a grassroots initiative postal subscription programme for primary school-aged children, with activities designed to promote mental wellbeing. This study aimed to explore the feasibility, acceptability, and demand for this programme.

Method
A newsletter was sent to parents of the children in two primary school classes (n=60), inviting participation. A prototype pack was posted to those families who registered their interest. Children (n=15; Mage = 7.6 years) and their parents (n=15) gave feedback via online surveys. Deductive and inductive content analysis and descriptive statistics were used.

Results
The prototype postal pack was popular with both children and parents. Participants gave positive feedback about the content and format of the pack indicating good acceptability, and the postal approach showed feasibility. All parents said they would subscribe, and 87% would be willing to pay, suggesting promising demand. Improvements were suggested for future programme development.

Conclusion
This postal subscription wellbeing programme was feasible and acceptable in this study, and findings suggest it could work in practice. Empirical studies are now needed to see if it does work and has any effect or efficacy in maintaining or promoting child mental wellbeing.

Original language	English
Article number	200255
Journal	Mental Health & Prevention
Volume	29
Early online date	2 Dec 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhp.2022.200255
Publication status	Published - 31 Mar 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Kane Baker is a trainee clinical psychologist. Maria Loades and Vuokko Wallace are academic staff on the DClinPsy programme at the University of Bath and supervised K.B. M.L. is funded by the National Institute for Health Research. This report is independent research. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, NIHR or the DoHSC.

Keywords

Parent-child relationships
Promoting mental well-being
Public health
Scaling methods
Universal prevention

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Psychiatry and Mental health

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.mhp.2022.200255Licence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{4fb9e214013b4872bc439d58c8d37f90,

title = "How could an evidence-informed postal subscription programme aiming to improve children's mental health and wellbeing work in practice?",

abstract = "BackgroundDifficulties impacting mental wellbeing often start in childhood, and universal prevention programmes are gaining attention as a scalable method to mitigate early risks. Send Me Sunshine is a grassroots initiative postal subscription programme for primary school-aged children, with activities designed to promote mental wellbeing. This study aimed to explore the feasibility, acceptability, and demand for this programme.MethodA newsletter was sent to parents of the children in two primary school classes (n=60), inviting participation. A prototype pack was posted to those families who registered their interest. Children (n=15; Mage = 7.6 years) and their parents (n=15) gave feedback via online surveys. Deductive and inductive content analysis and descriptive statistics were used.ResultsThe prototype postal pack was popular with both children and parents. Participants gave positive feedback about the content and format of the pack indicating good acceptability, and the postal approach showed feasibility. All parents said they would subscribe, and 87% would be willing to pay, suggesting promising demand. Improvements were suggested for future programme development.ConclusionThis postal subscription wellbeing programme was feasible and acceptable in this study, and findings suggest it could work in practice. Empirical studies are now needed to see if it does work and has any effect or efficacy in maintaining or promoting child mental wellbeing.",

keywords = "Parent-child relationships, Promoting mental well-being, Public health, Scaling methods, Universal prevention",

author = "Kane Baker and Maria Loades and Vuokko Wallace",

note = "Funding Information: Kane Baker is a trainee clinical psychologist. Maria Loades and Vuokko Wallace are academic staff on the DClinPsy programme at the University of Bath and supervised K.B. M.L. is funded by the National Institute for Health Research. This report is independent research. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, NIHR or the DoHSC. ",

year = "2023",

month = mar,

day = "31",

doi = "10.1016/j.mhp.2022.200255",

language = "English",

volume = "29",

journal = "Mental Health & Prevention",