Implementing BEAM: A Scalable Digital Mental Health Program, for Families of Children Referred to Neurodevelopmental Services

Families of children with neurodevelopmental differences (NDDs), including autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and related developmental conditions, experience substantially elevated rates of caregiver stress, depression, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion compared to parents of typically developing children. These mental health challenges are driven by a combination of factors, including increased caregiving demands, behavioral and regulatory difficulties, uncertainty related to diagnosis and prognosis, financial strain, and the burden of navigating complex service systems. Caregiver mental health is a critical determinant of family functioning, parenting quality, and child outcomes; persistent caregiver distress has been associated with poorer parent-child interactions, reduced parental self-efficacy, and increased risk of adverse child socioemotional outcomes.

Despite the well-documented mental health needs of caregivers of children with NDDs, access to timely and effective mental health supports remains limited. Services are often siloed, child-focused, or delivered through long waitlists, with few interventions directly targeting caregiver emotional well-being. Geographic barriers, cost, time constraints, and a shortage of trained providers further restrict access, particularly for families in rural or underserved communities. As a result, many caregivers do not receive mental health support during critical periods of child development.

BEAM (Building Emotional Awareness and Mental Health) is an app-based parenting and mental health intervention designed to address parental distress through an integrated, skills-based approach. BEAM combines evidence-based psychoeducation, self-monitoring, peer support, and optional coached support to promote emotional regulation, stress management, and positive parenting practices. Previous clinical trials of BEAM with parents of young children have demonstrated improvements in parental depression, anxiety, anger, sleep, and parenting behaviors, supporting its efficacy as a scalable digital mental health intervention.

The present study evaluates BEAM delivered as-is to caregivers of children with NDDs (BEAM-NDD). Rather than adapting program content, this trial focuses on examining the feasibility, acceptability, and outcomes of implementing an existing evidence-based digital intervention within a high-need population. This approach reflects a growing emphasis on implementation science and real-world applicability, assessing whether interventions developed for broader parenting populations can be successfully extended to families of children with neurodevelopmental differences.

BEAM-NDD is delivered over a 12-week period through a secure mobile application. The program includes four core components: (1) weekly parenting and mental health psychoeducational videos, (2) weekly progress tracking of emotional and parenting experiences, (3) a moderated peer discussion forum, and (4) skill-building exercises aligned with weekly content. Video content covers topics such as managing stress and emotional overwhelm, emotion regulation strategies, values-based parenting, and strengthening parent-child relationships. Progress tracking allows caregivers to reflect on changes in mood, stress, and parenting experiences over time, supporting self-awareness and engagement. The peer forum provides opportunities for normalization, shared problem-solving, and social support among caregivers facing similar challenges. Optional peer-coaching support is available to further encourage engagement and application of skills. Participants may invite a co-parent or other primary caregiver to participate concurrently in the program.

The study uses a single-arm pre-post design to evaluate BEAM-NDD in caregivers of children with diagnosed or suspected neurodevelopmental differences. Data collection occurs at baseline prior to program initiation, immediately following completion of the 12-week intervention, and at follow-up. The primary focus of the trial is on implementation outcomes, including recruitment feasibility, retention, program engagement, and participant satisfaction. Secondary objectives include examining changes in caregiver mental health and parenting-related outcomes following participation in BEAM-NDD. Exploratory analyses will examine individual differences in engagement and outcomes to better understand for whom the intervention may be most effective.

Digital interventions such as BEAM-NDD offer several advantages for families of children with NDDs, including flexibility, reduced barriers related to travel and scheduling, and scalability within existing service systems. However, evidence is needed to determine whether these interventions are acceptable and beneficial for caregivers with complex and chronic stressors. By evaluating BEAM-NDD without content modification, this study will provide important information about the generalizability of evidence-based digital parenting and mental health programs to NDD populations.

Findings from this trial will inform future decisions regarding the scale-up, sustainability, and potential adaptation of BEAM for families of children with neurodevelopmental differences. BEAM-NDD has the potential to function as an accessible mental health support for caregivers facing long waitlists, limited specialized services, or geographic barriers, and may complement existing child-focused interventions by directly addressing caregiver well-being.