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April 2005 - Issue 9

Family Help Update

Family Help Program: Bringing Health Home

Two Studies Completed - Closed March 31, 2005!

Disruptive Behaviour Disorder (ages 3-7)
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ages 8-12)

We are working closely with the Department of Health, District Health Authorities of Cumberland, Colchester/East Hants and Pictou, and the IWK Health Centre to make Family Help a regular service. Access to the Behaviour Disorder Programs would be re-opened at that time.

Studies still open to referrals:

  • Frequent Headache/Stomach Pain (9-16 years) - headache/stomach aches 3 times a month.
  • Anxiety (6-12 years) - anxious feelings or worries about ordinary situations.
  • Night Time Bedwetting (5-12 years) - wets bed at night at least 2 times a week.
  • Sleep Disorder (5-12 years) - difficulty getting to or staying asleep.
  • Postpartum Depression (19-45 years) - for women who have had a baby in the past year.
Call toll-free: 1-866-470-7111
www.bringinghealthhome.com

LOTS OF ROOM IN PAIN AND ANXIETY

Headache & Stomach Pain
  • Common for 9-16 year olds.
  • May complain of headache or stomach-ache or both.
  • Headache may be migraine or tension.
  • Occurs at least 3 times a month.
Anxiety or Worry
  • Common for 6-12 year olds
  • May complain of fear or worry about:
  • going to bed/sleeping alone
  • taking tests
  • being away from parent
  • being in crowds
  • things like escalators or dogs
Both problems can be a burden and interfere with:
  • School performance on tests, presentations and class participation
  • Getting to school on time and staying for the day.
  • Social relationships with friends.
  • Family outings

Study Progress Update

Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research

We would like to thank the Nova Scotia District Health Authorities of Cumberland, Colchester/East Hants, Pictou, and Capital Health for their continued support.

Study progress to date:

  • Referrals received - 401
  • Eligible for randomization - 228
  • Family Help Treatment - 121
  • Standard Care Treatment - 107
  • Standard Care accepted treatment at 1 year- 30

The graph below depicts the per module target goal and the number randomized to date.

Family Help Offers New Research Programs
Introducing The New Modules

MOM: Managing our Mood (ages 19-45)

Help for Women with Postpartum Depression
Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

"MOM" is a much-needed program that is in the pilot research phase.

  • Treatment will be delivered to the first 20 eligible women.
  • We have received a total of 17 referrals to date; 10 are in treatment.

Postpartum depression can affect the mother, the child, family and society.

  • Mother may feel down, depressed and have little interest in activities.
  • Occurs in 10-20% of mothers within a year of giving birth.
  • Often goes undiagnosed and untreated.

Methods of referral for MOM:

  • Self Referral via Web, Toll Free Fax or Phone
  • Physician Referral via Toll Free Fax

The MOM program is available to women in the Cumberland, Colchester/East Hants, Pictou and Capital Health Districts.

Sleep Disorders Study (ages 5-12)

Currently available to Capital Health District Only
Funded by Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation.

The "Better Nights, Better Days" program is in the randomized phase.

  • Fifty percent of the participants will be wait-listed for 6 months before receiving treatment, others receive treatment immediately.

Sleep difficulties have an impact on the child and family well-being.

  • Child may have trouble getting to sleep and/or staying asleep.
  • Research indicates that about 25-50% of children have sleep problems.
  • Up to 95% of children with behaviour problems (Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder) suffer from sleep difficulties.

Methods of referral for Sleep Difficulties:

  • Self Referral via Toll Free Fax or Phone
  • Physician Referral via Toll Free Fax

This program is available to families living in the Capital Health District. Our goal is to expand to the Cumberland, Colchester/East Hants and Pictou areas.

What is Family Help?

Family Help Research Program is designed to:
  • help families and children with mild or moderate problems early, before they become more severe.
  • provide up-to-date, evidence-based primary care:
  • at times convenient to the family,
  • from a distance (no need to travel),
  • using easy-to-read written materials, videos and weekly telephone contact by a trained coach.

The Doctor Is In!

Our very own Dr. Patrick McGrath, Principal Investigator for the Family Help Program, began writing an advice column for the Daily News on September 26, 2004.

"Ask Dr. Pat" can be read in the weekly Sunday Edition of the Daily News. Each week his advice is based on questions he has been asked throughout his career as a Pediatric Clinical Psychologist and from interested readers.

You can send your questions to askdoctorpat.ca

How to contact us: Family Help: Bringing Health Home

Toll Free Phone
1-866-470-7111

Toll Free Fax
1-866-470-7222 		      Patricia Pottie, Program Manager
IWK Health Centre
8th floor, Pediatric Pain Research Lab
PO Box 9700
5850/5980 University Avenue
Halifax, N.S. B3K 6R8
patricia.pottie.nshealth.ca 		      E-mail:
family.help.info.ca

Website
www.bringinghealthhome.com