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A number of recent series airing on traditional and streaming platforms portray sensitive topics faced by adolescents, including depression and suicide. Research has suggested that these subjects may be difficult for parents and adolescents to discuss, given their stigmatized nature. It is possible, however, that series portraying these issues in a realistic way can influence parent viewers' perceived understanding of and comfort discussing these topics, and subsequently, relate to self-reported conversations with their adolescents. In addition, it is likely that these relations may differ for participants from different countries, especially considering country differences in mental health, access to mental health care, and stigmatization about mental health. We tested these relations using data from 778 parent viewers of the series 13 Reasons Why. We sampled viewers from four countries: Australia, the United States, Brazil, and the United Kingdom. Results suggested an indirect association between self-reported topic understanding and starting a conversation with their adolescent about these topics via reports of comfort discussing these topics. Participants' country of habitation at the time of the study did not significantly influence these associations. We discuss these findings in the context of parent-adolescent communication, particularly around sensitive health-related topics. Highlights: Four-country sample of parents of adolescents (ages 13–17) who viewed 13 Reasons Why. Relation between understanding of portrayed sensitive topics and comfort discussing them with child. Relation between comfort discussing sensitive topics and reports of having a conversation with child. Few differences as a function of country. Implications for the role of media in prompting and supporting difficult conversations between parents and children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For parents of children with cerebral visual impairment, the greatest need during the diagnostic period is to gain knowledge about their child's visual difficulties. Unfortunately, through lack of information, many parents are often left confused and unsure how to help their child. To better understand the impact this lack of information has in relation to empowering parents and helping them to confidently develop into parental advocates, parents of children with cerebral visual impairment were invited to participate in an online survey. Responses were received from nine different countries in North America, UK, Australasia and Europe. Information gathered included: parents' experiences during the diagnostic period, their attainment of knowledge as their child developed and their level of empowerment in relation to the services their child receives. Findings suggest that parents who did receive information at time of diagnosis have more positive relationships with professionals, feel more empowered and are more confident in being parental advocates. Providing parents with information about cerebral visual impairment in a format that they are able to easily access at time of diagnosis helps parents to better understand the impact of this condition on their child's development. When parents are provided with information about cerebral visual impairment that is relevant to their child, it helps them to develop the confidence to effectively advocate for their child's needs by empowering them through knowledge and understanding. Providing parents with relevant information about their child's visual difficulties helps them to further develop their understanding of cerebral visual impairment and therefore, is seen as a tool for further learning. When parents are provided with clear information about cerebral visual impairment in relation to their child, it helps them to cultivate collaborative relationships with professionals supporting their child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses childcare services in six countries, assessing this policy instrument's potential to facilitate parents' capabilities for arranging childcare in a way they have reason to value. It draws on Sen's capability approach to conceptualize and assess childcare policy design across five key aspects of childcare provision (accessibility, availability, affordability, quality and flexibility) in a country-comparative perspective. The conceptualization of the multifaceted nature of childcare provides compelling insights into the complexity of comparing childcare services across countries. The ensuing analysis and comprehensive overview of national policies challenges the idea of a defamilialization policy cluster, which masks key distinctions between public and market service provision. The more nuanced conceptualization and operationalization of childcare policy design through the capability approach reveals parents' real opportunities for arranging childcare and the varying effects of policy design across gender and class. In addition, it goes beyond implicit commodification assumptions and opens up space for parents' potential desire for multiple care arrangement possibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]