Evaluating the Therapist-assisted Online Parenting Strategies (TOPS-SP) program for adolescents with depression, anxiety disorders and elevated suicide risk

Our team has developed the Therapist-assisted Online Parenting Strategies (TOPS) program and found it to show promising benefits for parents of depressed and anxious adolescents in a pilot trial. TOPS is an online parenting intervention with coaching support delivered via video conferencing, that equips parents with evidence-based strategies to reduce the impact of depression and anxiety in their adolescent. Adolescents with depression and/or anxiety disorders are at elevated risk of suicide, but TOPS does not currently provide specific strategies to address the additional challenges the suicide risk presents to families. We have recently adapted TOPS through an extensive co-design process, and plan to commence a pilot trial in 2023 to evaluate the adapted program TOPS-SP (TOPS-Suicide Prevention). The PhD project will involve delivering TOPS-SP and evaluating its effects using a mixed-methods design. Given the partnership we have developed with headspace to roll out TOPS as part of their digital mental health programs, this project provides the successful candidate with an invaluable opportunity to be involved in delivering outcomes that have real-world applied impact.