Keralam Child Development Centre gets ₹35-lakh grant to study autism-related parental grief

The Child Development Centre (CDC), Thiruvananthapuram, has received an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-approved grant of ₹35 lakh for a three-year research project titled “Development and Validation of a Tool for Assessing Grief among Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.” The project, led by CDC director Deepa Bhaskaran, aims to develop and validate a culturally relevant tool to assess grief among parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

“The study will use focus group discussions and in-depth interviews involving parents of children with ASD, bereaved parents, professionals working with children with ASD, and members of the general population to understand the dimensions and cultural expressions of grief in the Indian context,” Dr.

Bhaskaran said. According to her, parents commonly experience shock, denial, fear, guilt, anger, sadness, and helplessness following their child’s diagnosis. The grief, described as chronic sorrow or non-finite grief, can recur at different stages of the child’s development, particularly when expected developmental milestones are not attained.

“The findings will help facilitate the identification of grief-related concerns among parents and support the development of appropriate grief counselling protocols and support group interventions, ultimately contributing to improved psychosocial well-being among families of children with ASD,” she said.

Inadequate social support compounds parental distress, she noted. “There is a need for healthcare professionals to recognise and assess parents’ emotional well-being alongside the rehabilitation needs of children with autism.

Early diagnosis, psychological support, and training for professionals to identify grief and help families develop coping strategies are vital,” she added.