Abstract
Introduction: The parent’s mental health problems affect the whole family. A child has double the risk of developing a mental health problem if their parent has a serious mental health disorder. However, the intergenerational transmission of mental health problems can be prevented. The Family Talk Intervention, which is one of the Effective Child & Family methods, aims to strengthen the resilience of children and families and to prevent the intergenerational transmission of mental health problems by addressing the problem that affects the whole family in a joint discussion. The method was originally developed for families with a parent with a mood disorder and children aged 8 to 15, but it has also been used in families where parents have other mental health problems.
Data and methods: The literature search was carried out using the Population, Concept, Context (PCC) search strategy typical for literature reviews with the question: What research has been conducted on the Family Talk Intervention? (P = pre-school-aged children, primary-school-aged children, young people, families, parents, C = Family Talk, C = healthcare, social welfare, home, school, day-care, third sector). The primary focus of the literature search was on impact studies. A systematic literature search was carried out in the following databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, ERIC, APA PsycInfo, Web of Science and Scopus.
Results: The literature search found 11 studies selected for a systematic review, four of which were selected for assessment (3 Nordic impact studies, 1 Finnish implementation study). Of the seven qualitative studies selected for review, five were non-Nordic impact studies, one was a Nordic implementation study, and one was a Finnish non-impact or non-implementation study. According to the assessment, the Family Talk Intervention model has a sufficient description and theoretical background. The method has positive impacts on factors related to children’s resilience, and the observed effects remained 10, 12 and 18 months after the intervention. The extent of the impacts was large (d = -0.74, 95% confidence interval (LV) = (-1.52-0.00); NNT (Number-Needed-to-Treat) = 2.50 and d = 0.92, 95% LV = (0.68-1.16); NNT 2.07). According to the results, when three families receive the intervention, one family benefits from it. The quality of impact studies ranged from poor to good. As the readiness to implement the Family Talk Intervention is achieved in less than half of the required areas, there is still room for improvement in its implementation in the Finnish context.
Overall assessment: The method receives an overall score of 4(/5) i.e. there is moderate documented evidence of the method in the Finnish context.