Melbourne parents with teens invited to participate in groundbreaking research

Researchers at the University of Melbourne are calling on families from the Melbourne metropolitan area to help them find long term ways to help teenagers better cope with physical and mental stresses.

Researchers are conducting free training sessions in North Melbourne this month for parents interested in learning skills to support their teenagers’ physical and mental health.

Parents who are interested in participating, will be randomly assigned to attend either a free 14-hour Youth Mental Health First Aid or 15-hour Australian Red Cross Apply First Aid course.

Researchers, based at the Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, are aiming to understand whether providing parents with training, impacts on the health of teenagers over the longer term. Participants will be asked to complete telephone surveys each year, possibly for up to 10 years, so that the teenagers’ health can be tracked over time. Teenagers are not required to have a physical or mental health problem when parents enrol in the study.

Laura Hart, a researcher involved in the study, said this was important research, as it was the first time researchers have looked at how providing training to parents impacts on the health of teenagers.

"The impact of mental illness or physical injury on adolescents can be really devastating. Providing parents with the knowledge and skills to respond appropriately, is one way that we can help young people cope better," she said.

To be eligible to participate, one parent and one teenager aged between 12 and 15, from each family, are asked to complete a short telephone about their knowledge of first aid and of teenage mental and physical health.

Both courses will be held 18-19 February 2012, from 9am until 5pm, at the Australian Red Cross College, 23-47 Villiers Street, North Melbourne. Other dates and times in coming months are also available. To register, go to www.tpot.net.au or call 03 9342 3767.