(PS7-B29) Caregivers with Children in Mentoring Organizations: Attitudes on Mentor Involvement in Child Mental Health and Digital Mental Health Interventions

Parents are increasingly looking towards mentoring programs to improve their child’s well-being. In fact, one study found that 25% of youth were referred to a Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program for their mental health or disability. Although volunteer mentoring programs often struggle to provide evidence-based mental health care, digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) have made it possible for mentors to support their mentees’ engagement in a range of resources. DMHIs have become increasingly popular, given their easy accessibility and generally low-cost commitment. Studies have supported the effectiveness of such interventions for promoting mindfulness, resilience, and well-being, as well as reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Some leaders in the mentoring and DMHI field argue that mentoring programs and DMHIs have the potential to bridge such gaps in mental health care for those who do not have access to treatment as usual or were adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite these promising resources, not much is known about caregivers’ comfort with their child receiving mental health support through a mentoring program, or the acceptability of DMHI use supported by mentors. A sense of caregivers’ attitudes surrounding such mental health interventions will inform mentoring program administrators on how to best navigate mental health support for youth mentees. The current study examined the attitudes of caregivers with children in mentoring programs surrounding mentor involvement in their child’s mental health care, as well as the implementation of DMHIs under the supervision of the mentoring program. The sample included 4,853 caregivers with at least one child in a mentoring program, who completed online surveys.

Results indicated that almost half of the participants (46.4%) reported that they would be comfortable with their child talking to their mentor about their mental health, and 45% reported they would be comfortable with their child’s mentor assisting in the use of DMHIs. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that caregiver sociodemographic characteristics (ethnicity and age), presence of specific psychological disorders for the child, attitudes towards and previous experiences with mental health care, and reasons for referring their child to a mentoring program were significantly associated with caregivers’ attitudes with a mentor’s involvement in their child’s mental health care (R2 = .43, p < .001). Furthermore, attitudes towards a mentor’s involvement in their child’s mental health care, family residence, presence of specific psychological disorders for the child, personal mental health experiences, attitudes towards and previous experiences with mental health care, and child’s previous experience with DMHIs were significantly associated with caregivers’ attitudes towards their child’s use of DMHIs under the supervision of a mentor (R2= .51, p < .001). Frequencies of specific concerns caregivers have will also be presented. Implications for mentoring organizations navigating mentees’ mental health will be discussed, specifically in the context of bridging mental health gaps and supporting youth mentees through the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.