Feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of a mental health drop-in centre for the siblings of young people attending a paediatric hospital.

It was a single-arm pilot with no control group, so any change could be due to time, other support, or natural variation rather than the drop-in centre. The sample was small, and quality-of-life analyses were based on fewer siblings than the SDQ analyses. The study used only parent-reported measures, which may miss internalising difficulties and may be influenced by parent mental health. Different interventions were given together, and some siblings had parents or index children also receiving support, so the contribution of any single component cannot be separated. Recruitment occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, when hospital and mental health services were disrupted. Families needed sufficient English, limiting generalisability.

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest. The project was funded by The Beryl Alexander Charity and Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.

Do not read the SDQ improvement as proof the drop-in centre caused better sibling mental health. The study had no control group, the sample was small, and the centre offered self-help materials or online resources, assessment, signposting or referral, and guided self-help, sometimes together, so the contribution of any single component cannot be separated.