Improving teacher awareness and understandings of paediatric obsessive- compulsive disorder (OCD) through a co-designed psychoeducational resource
Teachers play a critical role in the early identification of paediatric mental health difficulties and neurodisabilities. However, there is currently a significant unmet need for early identification, awareness and intervention surrounding paediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
The early identification of mental health difficulties and neurodisabilities in children and young people (CAYP) has been demonstrated to prevent negative long-term impacts, such as co-occurring psychiatric conditions and negative impacts on academic development. Mental health literacy of OCD remains limited and littered with stigmatised, stereotypical representations of the condition. Combined with this lack of general awareness, the rationale for this project came from the School of Education PhD student, Elizabeth Colbert’s, lived experience of OCD in childhood and the lack of recognition of the condition throughout her schooling.
Due to the amount of time CAYP spend in educational settings, teachers are ideally situated to recognise early presentations of psychiatric conditions, as well as offer appropriate support and instigate relevant referrals to aid the child.
This project is supervised by Dr Lauren Powell and Dr Anna Weighall, and has obtained White Rose DTP ESRC funding. The overall aim of the PhD is to produce a co-designed psychoeducational resource to improve teacher awareness and understanding of paediatric OCD, in the hopes of improving subsequent identification and access to support for CAYP with the condition. The effectiveness of psychoeducation in supporting CAYP has been highlighted in works by Dr Lauren Powell, particularly with primary-aged young autistic people, and young people with ADHD.
The production of the resource will be done in line with principles of co-design through a series of workshops to supplement initial focus groups. Engagement with groups of CAYP with OCD, their families, clinicians, and educational professionals is therefore a critical tenet of the project. Such groups will be consulted to identify gaps in knowledge, the format in which they like to receive this information, and assess the suitability of the prototype resource in doing so. The resource aims to support teachers in understanding what OCD is, how this may present in the classroom and how to support CAYP experiencing symptoms.
Twitter (X): @libbycolbertpsy