Abstracts for the 15th International Conference on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology (ICCAP 2023), Kuching, Sarawak (on Borneo Island), August 7 –9, 2023

Background: 'Partners in Parenting' (PiP) is an evidence-based digital parenting intervention that supports parents in reducing the risk of adolescent anxiety and depression, and has demonstrated effi cacy in Australia.Before deploying it in Malaysia, PiP may need adaptations to a Southeast Asian context, where more familistic and interdependent values are endorsed. Aims:The study presents Phase one of adapting PiP to Malaysia where we explored Malaysian parenting practices, as well as parents' attitudes and beliefs towards adolescent mental health and help seeking from professionals.Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted in English, Malay, Chinese or Tamil with 39 Malaysian parents of adolescents (aged 12-17 years) attending public schools.Results: Thematic analysis was used to identify aspects of Malaysian parenting that may differ from PiP assumptions about parenting.Preliminary coding found religion and the extended family to be strong infl uences in guiding parenting.Fathers described a more distant, practical relationship with their adolescents, while mothers shared a closer, emotional one.Malaysian parents have mixed perceptions about adolescent mental health, perceiving it as a rising concern, but also expressing unfamiliarity or discomfort with the topic.Consulting with a mental health professional was largely acceptable, but only as a last resort.Conclusions: PiP adaptations for Malaysia may include incorporating cultural nuances in parenting (e.g., religion) and demystifying issues of teenage mental health and help seeking.A culturally relevant and accessible PiP for Malaysian parents has the potential to support families, especially given the increased demand on local mental health services following the COVID-19 pandemic.