Stress workshops in UK schools significantly improve teenagers’ mental health

Adolescence is a time of intense psychological stress, and this age group is at increased risk for both anxiety and depression. To help alleviate this trend, British schools evaluated the effectiveness of a stress workshop program aimed at young people from the age of 16 to 18.

The program was part of a study based on the Brief Educational Workshop Trial in Secondary Schools (BESST). BESTT results recently LancetIn this study, researchers report the clinical and cost-effectiveness of the workshop after 6 months compared to standard care.

study: Clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a brief and accessible cognitive behavioral therapy program (BESST) for stress in school-age youth: A cluster randomized controlled trial in the United Kingdom. Image credit: SeventyFour / Shutterstock.com

Adolescent mental health care

More than 50% of adult mental health disorders begin before the age of 15, and 75% of these problems begin by the age of 18. It is estimated that more than 25% of individuals between the ages of 17 and 19 will have a mental health disorder in 2022, up from 17% in 2021. Furthermore, it is estimated that approximately 60% of children and young people in the UK with a clinically diagnosable mental health disorder have a mental health disorder. Not receiving specialist care through Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

Some evidence suggests that specialist cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) may be effective against other This suggests that it may be more effective than intervention.

Self-introduction to this type of program increases accessibility and acceptability for youth and leads to higher participation rates even among minority groups. With follow-up rates of over 90%, these programs, unlike targeted interventions, avoid bias while maximizing autonomy and efficiency.

DISCOVER’s one-day workshop program allows for more clinician interaction while using self-introductions, proven CBT techniques, and more visual aids. His CBT approach in this program includes ways to deal with mood swings, anxiety, and stress. All workshops are delivered by mental health support staff who first undergo her two-day training.

About research

The design of the current study is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in which schools will deliver either the DISCOVER workshop or usual care. Here, researchers considered whether CBT through DISCOVER workshops could be an accessible, scalable, and evidence-based intervention.

All findings were categorized by study site and matched against school size and deprivation index.

What is a DISCOVER workshop?

Each workshop included presentations of adolescent experiences, including role-plays and group discussions. Problems commonly encountered by this age group include personal problems, relationship problems, and academic challenges. Workshop participants were taught using multiple media to use CBT for anxiety and mood issues.

During the workshop, participants were taught problem-solving skills and encouraged to develop healthy sleep habits, use their time efficiently, and identify and correct unhealthy thoughts. The issues covered in the workshop were provided in digital format through a telephone application for further reference.

A week later, a follow-up session was held by phone during which the researchers observed the use of the new skills in action. He was provided with two additional reviews within 12 weeks after the workshop.

What did the research show?

The DISCOVER group included 443 students from 26 schools, 67% of whom were female, while the usual treatment group included 457 students from 31 schools, of whom 76% were female. Approximately 52% of participants were Caucasian and the average age was 17 years.

After 6 months, depressive symptoms as measured by the Mood and Emotions Questionnaire (MFQ) decreased by an average of 2 points in the DISCOVER group. When only those with pre-existing depressive symptoms were included, a 4-point improvement in symptoms was observed. In addition to higher attendance and satisfaction, the DISCOVER group also experienced significant improvements in well-being, anxiety, and resilience.

The DISCOVER intervention costs approximately £110 per pupil, making the total cost approximately £150 higher than the control treatment. Compared with the control treatment, DISCOVER had a 60-80% chance of being cost-effective, with the control treatment costing between £20,000 and £30,000 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) threshold.

conclusion

The findings of this study indicate that the clinical effectiveness of the DISCOVER workshop is moderate, while demonstrating its financial feasibility. The effectiveness of this intervention exceeded the clinically meaningful threshold for students who were already depressed at baseline.

Compared to other studies based on universal CBT approaches or curriculum-based mindfulness training, the DISCOVER workshop appears to have superior results. The use of newly appointed mental health support staff, the deployment of CBT techniques, and the acceptability and accessibility of the intervention may have contributed to its success.

The high proportion (80%) of those who have never previously sought help through formal channels highlights the value of this approach for this group who may not be keen to seek professional help.”

DISCOVER workshops may be a promising school-based early intervention, especially if the program’s effects persist into adulthood. Nevertheless, additional research is needed to validate and follow up on these findings, which is important given the growing need for mental health care in adolescents.

Notable limitations of the current study include the significantly lower proportion of students who wanted to know about the workshop but did not attend, and the relatively small number of male participants.