SOS for Caregiver Wellbeing

This single-arm prospective trial aims to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of implementing a mental health screening and support pathway (the SOS model) for parents and caregivers of children with chronic conditions (CMs) in an outpatient clinic setting. The study will recruit 100 parents and caregivers attending the Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) outpatient clinics.

For the remainder of this protocol, all parents and caregivers will be referred to as 'caregivers.'

The primary objective is to test a systematic approach where:

* Caregivers undergo mental health screening using validated measures. * Receive feedback on their mental health screening measure scores from their RCH clinician or a researcher * All caregivers are provided with resources on appropriate support pathways

The support framework will include:

* Psychoeducational resources describing symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress * Description of referral pathways to primary care physicians for mental health plans, enabling access to government-funded psychological support * Connection to existing online mental health resources

By evaluating this approach, the trial seeks to determine the:

* acceptability of the screening process to both caregivers and clinicians * feasibility of screening and feedback for caregivers attending their child's outpatient hospital appointment * practicality of integrating mental health screening and feedback into routine outpatient care * effectiveness of the referral pathways in connecting parents to appropriate support services * barriers or facilitators to implementing this model of care The findings will inform whether this screening and support model could be implemented as part of standard care for caregivers of children with chronic conditions.

• The proportion of caregivers reporting comfort (acceptability) when completing the mental health survey as measured on a Likert scale on a study-designed survey [Time frame: 3 months]
• The proportion of caregivers who would recommend to others completing a mental health and wellbeing survey (acceptability) as measured on a Likert scale on a study-designed survey [Time frame: 3 months]
• The proportion of caregivers reporting comfort (acceptability) when discussing their survey results with a clinician as measured on a Likert scale on a study-designed survey [Time frame: 3 months]
• The proportion of clinicians who report feeling their interactions were well-received in a survey on their experience as measured on a Likert scale on a study-designed survey [Time frame: 4 weeks]
• The proportion of clinicians who report feeling that caregivers understood the feedback results in a survey on their experience (acceptability) as measured on a Likert scale on a study-designed survey [Time frame: 4 weeks]
• The proportion of clinicians who report they found the process of discussing a caregiver's mental health easy (acceptability) in a study-designed measure in a survey on their experience [Time frame: 4 weeks]
• The proportion of clinicians who report they found the whole SOS model (screening, outcomes and support pathways) an acceptable addition to the clinic on a survey on their experience (acceptability) [Time frame: 4 weeks]
• The proportion of clinicians who consent to take part in the workshop and trial (feasibility of clinician recruitment) [Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 6 months]
• The proportion of clinicians who respond that the SOS Model is feasible as per the 4-item Feasibility of Intervention Measure. [Time frame: 4 weeks]
• Time required for the clinician to discuss feedback and provide information as measured on a Likert scale on a study-designed survey (feasibility) [Time frame: 4 weeks]
• Clinician feedback on whether the mental health screening survey would add to their workload based on an open-ended question in a study designed survey (feasibility) [Time frame: 4 weeks]
• The proportion of consenting caregivers who complete all study procedures [Time frame: Baseline]