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Objective: This is the first pilot study to examine the Australian adaptation of the Strengthening Families Program (SFP), a manualised family intervention recommended internationally in evidence reviews to improve family functioning and child mental health. The study compared two versions (8 vs. 14‐session) and longitudinally evaluated outcomes for child emotional and behavioural difficulties, and parental psychological distress. Method: Fifty‐eight families from disadvantaged primary schools in regional Victoria with children 8–12 years (80.6% of initially enrolled families, 62 parents and 74 children) completed the program and evaluation measures. Measures were repeated at pre‐, post‐, and 3‐month follow‐up and included the Kessler 6, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and subscales adapted from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children and Communities that Care Youth Survey. Results: The program showed significant reductions in child difficulties and parental psychological distress from pre‐ to post‐measurements that were sustained at follow‐up. Reductions in parental psychological distress were significantly associated with reductions in child difficulties at follow‐up. The 8‐ and 14‐session formats were not found to be significantly different in reducing child difficulties or parental psychological distress. Effect sizes for the Australian version were similar to those reported in previous U.S. trials. Conclusions: Findings support the feasibility and effectiveness of an Australian adaptation of the SFP. The current study is unique in identifying similar outcomes for shorter and longer versions of the intervention. It is recommended that the 8‐session Australian version is examined in a larger randomised controlled trial where children present with behavioural and emotional problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is little published data on the prevalence of psychological distress among individuals and couples seeking counselling and mediation services from non-government organisations ( NGOs). This national cross-sectional study establishes the prevalence of psychological distress among clients seeking family and relationship counselling and mediation services from Relationships Australia. A national sample of 1,365 clients attending services in April to May 2012 completed the 10-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale ( K10) after their first counselling or mediation session. Individual counselling ( M = 23.01, SD = 8.97, 95% CI [22.05-23.97]) and couple counselling ( M = 21.63, SD = 8.10, [20.86-22.41]) clients reported a mean K10 score comparable to those reported by clinical studies of clients with anxiety or affective disorders. One quarter to one fifth of these clients reported very high psychological distress. Clients accessing mediation services had a mean score of 18.13 ( SD = 7.76; [17.51-18.75]), and one tenth of clients reported very high distress. These elevated rates of very high psychological distress suggest that mental health issues may be a significant problem for a large proportion of clients accessing counselling and mediation NGO services provided under Family Support Programs ( FSP) funding. Implications for screening for mental health and appropriate treatment planning are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]