Early Intervention in Clinical Settings for (Expectant) Parents with Mental Health Conditions or at Risk of Substance Misuse

The initiative Early Intervention in Clinical Settings for (Expectant) Parents with Mental Health Problems or at Risk of Addiction is being developed to help parents facing difficulties transition from inpatient to outpatient care, to strengthen cooperation within early intervention services, and to ensure support during pregnancy and parenthood.

Project status:
ongoing
Period:
–
Type:
Research project
Profile:
Social Space – Education, Participation, Community
Organisational Unit:
Cooperation partners:
Institut für Fortbildung, Forschung und Entwicklung (IFFE) e.V. Landeshauptstadt Potsdam
Project participants:
  • Karsten Krauskopf (Projektleiter/-in)

Early intervention for (expectant) parents with mental health conditions and those at risk of substance misuse: Preventive support in a clinical setting

In 2024, the project „Early intervention in clinical settings for (expectant) parents with mental health conditions and those at risk of addiction“ was developed in collaboration with the City of Potsdam. The aim of the project is to create a preventative and low-threshold counselling service that supports expectant or young parents experiencing mental health difficulties and/or at risk of addiction.

Transition from inpatient to outpatient care:

At the parents’ request, this initiative facilitates the transition of parents receiving inpatient treatment to suitable outpatient care services. This is achieved through outreach counselling provided by Early Intervention specialists directly within the inpatient facilities. They assess individual needs and ensure seamless continuation of counselling in the outpatient setting or referral to a more suitable service.

Objectives of the measure:

  1. Early support: Establishing low-threshold services that reach parents experiencing mental health issues or at risk of addiction as early as during pregnancy and support them as they prepare for parenthood.
  2. Continuous care: Ensuring appropriate support for parents and children up to the age of three.
  3. Improving collaboration between support systems: Strengthening cooperation between the health service and youth welfare services to create seamless transitions.
  4. Relieving the burden on clinical staff: Reducing the workload in inpatient facilities through early referral and collaboration with outpatient services.

Long-term impact:

This measure supports expectant and young parents in difficult life situations and strengthens the integration of early intervention services into the healthcare system. It helps to improve, in the long term, the care provided to parents with mental health conditions or at risk of substance misuse, and to establish a reliable network between clinical and outpatient support services.