A Family Camp for Families Where a Parent Experiences Mental Health Challenges: A Qualitative Evaluation

Abstract

There are few community interventions that provide a whole-of-family approach to supporting families where a parent has mental health challenges. The Satellite Foundation is a community organisation that provides a range of non-clinical programs, including Family Camps, to support young people in families who have a family member with mental health challenges. The aim for this qualitative evaluation was to understand the experiences of parents and children participating in Family Camp, and their perspectives on its impacts. Parents and children participated in semi-structured interviews post Camp. Questions focused on their experience of Camp and how it might have impacted them and their family. Data were inductively analysed, with separate thematic analyses of parent and child data sets, followed by a comparative qualitative synthesis. Key findings included parents and children valuing the Camp as an opportunity to strengthen family bonds through shared activities, while also fostering meaningful conversations about mental illness that deepened connection within their families. While some arrived with unclear expectations, and some found the Camp pace and structure emotionally challenging, many parents and children found the experience enriching. The findings highlight the effectiveness of Camps in reducing isolation, promoting family connectedness and encouraging discussions about mental health. These are key factors for strengthening wellbeing in families where a parent has a mental illness. Mental health nurses and other clinicians have an important role to play in supporting young people and families living with mental illness through referral to Family Camps and organisations such as the Satellite Foundation.