Program for the management of parental burnout in parents of autism children

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a challenging disorder to manage. It requires early intensive behavioral interventions that demand time energy and extreme dedication by the caregivers. We have noticed that parents are fighting to strike a balance between the child’s symptom improvement and managing their own unmet needs. In effect parents get distressed emotionally detached and inadequate. This led us to organize a novel program for parents of our autism children. Here we shall discuss how to come up with solutions for their stressors. We have included relaxation techniques, tips for healthy relationships and how to efficiently seek family support. We have planned the program in a series of three sessions one session per month on every fourth Thursday intended to be continued every month. The highlights of the inaugural session conducted by Dr Prabha Vidyatilake (senior registrar child and adolescent psychiatry) and Miss Tharika Peiris (clinical psychologist) with the enthusiastic parents are seen below.