Louisa Man (@drlouisalyman.bsky.social)

Caregivers need support too. 💙 Our new study shows a virtual ACT-based program can improve psychological flexibility, reduce stress, and boost wellbeing among caregivers of people with disabilities. Read: formative.jmir.org/2026/1/e86205 #Neurodiversity #CaregiverSupport

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Evaluating the Preliminary Outcomes and Acceptability of a Virtual Adaptation of Acceptance and Commitment Training for Caregivers of People With Disabilities (“I Am Not Alone”): Mixed Methods Study Background: Family caregivers of children and youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities report higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression than other caregivers, yet few evidence-based mental health services are available to support them. Our previous research demonstrated that caregivers benefitted from our in-person group-based acceptance and commitment training (ACT) workshop, which increased their psychological flexibility and improved their mental well-being. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we adapted this intervention to be delivered virtually. Objective: In this study, we evaluated the program’s impact on caregivers’ psychological flexibility and mental well-being, as well as the acceptability of the virtual program. Methods: A total of 205 family caregivers of neurodivergent people or people with disabilities who registered for a virtual, group-based ACT intervention (10-12 hours across 5 or 6 weeks) from 1 of 27 teams across Canada participated in this research. ACT proces https://formative.jmir.org/2026/1/e86205