Family Help-Seeking Behaviour during the COVID-19-Pandemic and the Shift to the Digital Space

ABSTRACT

Background: As a result of drastic changes in everyday family life due to the COVID-19-pandemic, a majority of parents in Germany expresses a need for support in dealing with their children. In turn, children and adolescents are exposed to elevated levels of mental burden and risks under the lockdown measures. The multi-family-program "Familien (achtsam) starken" aims to prevent addiction and other mental illnesses in children and adolescents and strengthens family functioning. Due to the pandemic, the program has been digitally adapted in 2020. Aim: The present study aims to explore the utilization of this prevention service and to compare it to the utilization of the presence program administered before the pandemic. Methods: Registration numbers, study drop-out rates and drop out reasons in the period of August 2020 to March 2021 (during the pandemic) and August 2019 to March 2020 (before the pandemic) are analyzed descriptively. Results: During the pandemic, registration numbers increased by 8,17 % . The study drop-out rate has decreased. The most frequent drop out reasons include concerns about the digital setting, intrafamily problems and illnesses and decreasing interest. Conclusion: Digital prevention services constitute a relevant and sustainable offer of help for families, however, possible obstacles to their utilization should be noted.