The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have announced the release of a new psychological intervention called Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions (EASE) aimed at supporting adolescents and their caregivers who are grappling with mental distress.
They made the revelation in a joint statement on Wednesday. According to them, 1 in 7 adolescents worldwide suffer from mental health conditions, which are often left unnoticed and untreated due to the shortage of resources.
With EASE, the WHO and UNICEF hope to address this critical gap in mental health care for young individuals.
Specifically designed for adolescents aged 10 to 15 years old, EASE tackles a wide range of internalising issues such as symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. By providing targeted support to both young individuals and their caregivers, the intervention aims to help adolescents cope with psychological distress and develop essential emotional skills.
EASE is backed by rigorous research and evidence-based strategies, ensuring its effectiveness in meeting the complex needs of adolescents in distress. By equipping caregivers with the tools and knowledge necessary to support their struggling teens, the programme aims to create a network of invaluable assistance for those in need.
According to the statement, EASE was successfully tested in two fully powered randomised controlled trials in Jordan and Pakistan.
“In Jordan, 471 adolescent Syrian refugees aged 10-14 years with self-reported distress participated and were randomized into the intervention arm (EASE) or into the control arm (enhanced care as usual). All participants completed assessments before randomization, one week after the intervention and again 3 months later.
“Adolescents who were randomised into the intervention arm had statistically significantly fewer internalising problems directly after the interventiobnn and 3 months after the intervention compared to adolescents who were randomised into the control arm. In addition, caregiver distress and disciplinary parenting significantly improved at three-month follow-up in the EASE intervention arm relative to the control arm.
“In Pakistan, 566 adolescents aged 13-15 years with self-reported distress participated in the trial and were randomised into the intervention arm (EASE) or into the control arm (waitlist control). Like the trial in Jordan, all participants completed assessments before randomization, and at one-week and 3-month follow-up. Publication of the results in a scientific article is expected soon,” it stated.
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Julian Cantu