ABCs Consultation Survey for Parents

1. The Purpose of the ABCs Consultation Survey for Parents

The Hincks-Dellcrest Centre, a children's mental health centre in Toronto, Canada, is developing an internet-based resource on children's and adolescents' mental health. Based on previous consultations with educators, we have already developed a resource for teachers on the mental health of children aged 3-14 years (see the usability testing version of the resource at www.hincksdellcrest.org/abc). Feedback from educators has been that a complementary resource for parents on children's and adolescents' mental health would be helpful. This consultation survey is intended to obtain feedback from parents across Canada about what information you would like to see included in an internet-based resource on children's and adolescents' mental health.

Please note that no information collected from this survey will be used to identify specific individuals. We thank you in advance for your time and assistance in completing this survey.

1. Where do you live?

Where do you live? city/town
province/territory
first 3 letters/digits of postal code

2. Do you live in

Do you live in an urban area

a rural area

3. What is your gender?

What is your gender? male

female

4. What is your country of origin?

What is your country of origin?

5. How many parents/guardians live at home?

How many parents/guardians live at home? one

two

Other (please specify)

6. If there is another parent/guardian living in the home beside yourself, what is their country of origin?

If there is another parent/guardian living in the home beside yourself, what is their country of origin?

7. What is the first language spoken in the home?

What is the first language spoken in the home?

8. Are you or the other parent/guardian an Aboriginal Person?

Are you or the other parent/guardian an Aboriginal Person? yes

9. If you or the other parent/guardian is an Aboriginal Person, do you live in an Aboriginal community?

If you or the other parent/guardian is an Aboriginal Person, do you live in an Aboriginal community? yes

10. If yes, please indicate the type of Aboriginal community.

If yes, please indicate the type of Aboriginal community. a Reserve

an Inuit community

a Metis community

a community of Aboriginal People in cities or towns which are not part of Reserves or traditional territories (for example, an Aboriginal community in Winnipeg)

11. How many children do you have?

How many children do you have? 1

If you are filling out the survey regarding grandchildren, nieces/nephews, wards, etc., please describe.

12. What ages are your children? (Check all that apply.)

What ages are your children? (Check all that apply.) 0 to 3

3+ to 6

6+ to 12

12+ to 15

15+ to 18

18+

13. Do any of your children have physical disabilities or challenges?

Do any of your children have physical disabilities or challenges? yes

If yes, please describe

14. Do any of your children have learning disabilities or challenges?

Do any of your children have learning disabilities or challenges? yes

If yes, please describe

15. Do you have a teenaged child who is not attending school?

Do you have a teenaged child who is not attending school? yes

16. This is a list of worrisome behaviours that parents or guardians might observe in their children or adolescents. Note that some of these behaviours are much more likely to occur at some ages than other ages. Please indicate which of these behaviours you think should be addressed in Mental Health Resource materials for parents and guardians. (Check all behaviours that you think should be included.)

This is a list of worrisome behaviours that parents or guardians might observe in their children or adolescents. Note that some of these behaviours are much more likely to occur at some ages than other ages. Please indicate which of these behaviours you think should be addressed in Mental Health Resource materials for parents and guardians. (Check all behaviours that you think should be included.) acts overly familiar with strangers - adults or peers

aggression

alcohol use

angry outbursts

apologizes excessively

attention-seeking

binging and purging

blames others for own mistakes/doesn't accept responsibility

bragging/boasting frequently

bullying others

clings to adults, has trouble separating

clowning frequently

clumsy/poor co-ordination

communication difficulties

concentration difficulties

cruelty to animals

cyber bullying

damage to property

defiance to authority

destroying their own work/posessions

difficulty getting along with parents

difficulty getting along with peers/friends

difficulty keeping up with schoolwork at grade level

disturbing drawings

drug use

eating non-food substances

eating too little

eating too much

excessive fears

fails to finish things s/he starts

fear of doing or thinking wrong things

fears/avoids new people or situations

feels overly guilty

fighting with siblings/friends frequently

fire-setting

frequent complaints of headaches or other aches and pains

frequent irrational beliefs

frequent nightmares

frequent trips to bathroom

friends: difficulties making and keeping

gender identity issues

general immaturity

getting into fights frequently

hangs out with friends that get into trouble

hearing voices

hitting or biting parents/siblings/friends

hoarding/storing too many things

inappropriate urination, defecation

inattention, impulsivity, restlessness

irrational behaviour - does not respond to consequences

irritability

isolation

lack of empathy or remorse

lethargic, inactive, uninterested

limited vocabulary

loneliness

lying

manipulation of parents/siblings/friends

memory difficulties

mood swings

negative self-talk/low self-worth

negotiating excessively

not talking at all in some situations

oppositional behavior

overly jealous

over-pleasing

perfectionism

picking skin

poor hygiene

prefers being alone

prefers to be with children or adolescents of different age group

pseudo-maturity beyond their years

pulling out hair

refusing to do chores

rejection by peers

repetitive thoughts or behaviour

risk-taking

rocking frequently

school fears/school avoidance

seeing things that aren't there

seems to be in a fog

seems to fantacise a lot

seems to think others are out to get him/her

self-conscious/easily embarrassed

self-injurious behaviour

self-stimulation

sensitive to noise, light or the way things feel

sex obsessed

sexual acting out

shows little emotion

shyness

sleep walking/talking

sleeps less/more than other children

sniffing gasoline, glue, solvents

speech sounds like that of a younger child

stealing

stutters

sudden changes in behaviour

suicidal talk, writing or gestures

suspicious/untrusting

swearing

talking to self aloud

talking too much

temper tantrums

thin but thinks s/he is overweight

tics

too loud

trouble waking up/often tired

truancy, skipping classes

vandalism

verbal acting out

victim of bullying

violent behaviour

whining

withdrawn behaviour

witnessed/experienced traumatic events

Write in any additional behaviours that parents may find worrisome in children or adolescents.

17. Mental Health Resource Materials could suggest ways parents or guardians could help their children or adolescents with mental health problems or with worrisome behaviours. Which of the following approaches would be useful to include in Resource Materials for parents and guardians?

Mental Health Resource Materials could suggest ways parents or guardians could help their children or adolescents with mental health problems or with worrisome behaviours. Which of the following approaches would be useful to include in Resource Materials for parents and guardians? promoting good mental health

prevention of future mental health problems

identifying early indicators of mental health problems

how to determine which behaviours may indicate a possible mental health problem

ways parents can support their children and adolescents who have a mental health problem

supports for parents/families

in school interventions

home interventions