“Teen-Friendly” Mindfulness Therapy is aimed at combating depression

Researchers have developed a mindfulness therapy designed specifically for teenagers to help them cope with rising levels of depression and mental health problems.

This approach teaches participants to tune into and manage negative thought patterns that can trigger or maintain depression, and allows them to focus on the present moment instead.

Developed by teams from the University of Cambridge and King’s College London PARTICIPATE in the program – ANDadolescents and caregivers who use mindfulness Ttherapy Tat END depression – also includes sessions for parents and carers, providing a family-centred approach to problem solving. The program is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

Adolescent depression is a serious problem in the UK, affecting around 140,000 young people aged 15-19. Only about 35,000 receive treatment, and of these 14,000 do not respond to treatment, while an additional 8,000 relapse after initial success. This highlights the urgent need for more effective and sustainable solutions.

Professor Tamsin Ford, head of psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, said: “Too many young people are struggling with their mental health but are unable to get the support they need through the NHS. Even among those who receive support, treatment is not effective enough for more than half of them.

“We know that mindfulness courses for adults can help people living with depression, but what might work for an adult is likely to be different to what might work for a teenager. That’s why we’ve developed a more ‘teen-friendly’ therapy that’s more engaging and, we hope, more effective.”

^{Professor Tamsin Ford}

Professor Ford and colleagues from King’s College London and the Universities of Exeter and Surrey have developed Mindfulness for Adolescents and Carers, which is based on the highly acclaimed Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).

MBCT is an evidence-based treatment recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for adults with recurrent depression. It combines mindfulness techniques with cognitive behavioral approaches to help people avoid relapse. Professor Ford and team have adapted MBCT to make it more engaging and effective for teenagers.

The new course will see teenagers attend eight weekly skills training sessions, either in person or online in groups. The ATTEND program also works with families to develop a program to help participants consolidate the skills they learn between sessions.

Unlike traditional MBCT, Mindfulness for Teens and Caregivers includes sessions for both teens and their parents or caregivers. In addition, there are more movement breaks, shorter practice sessions, snacks and activities for teenagers.

Professor Patrick Smith, professor of clinical psychology at King’s College London, said: “Supporting a depressed teenager can be incredibly challenging for families. Parents often struggle to know how to best help their children. That’s why our course offers separate parallel training for parents or carers alongside sessions for teenagers.’

“We hope this will help parents better understand and support their child’s recovery, and potentially improve their own mental health and family relationships.”

^{Professor Patrick Smith}

Although MBCT is well established for adults, its effectiveness for adolescents is still being investigated. The ATTEND program is a large-scale trial across England to assess whether mindfulness for teenagers and carers is more effective than current treatments for depression available on the NHS.

The team aims to recruit 480 teenagers and their parents, half of whom will participate in mindfulness groups and the other half who will continue with usual care. Researchers will study outcomes such as recovery rates, relapse prevention and cost-effectiveness compared with standard approaches.

Professor Ford added: “While our main aim is to see if our mindfulness course can help teenagers recover from low mood or depression and prevent relapse, we are also interested in the benefits it can bring to their carers.

“Just as importantly, we want to see if this approach – if effective – can be integrated into NHS services. This will ensure access to it for many teenagers struggling with their mental health.”

Young people and parents who have experienced depression have been involved in the development of the ATTEND program from the beginning. Their input ensured that the program was tailored to the needs of families and involved both teenagers and their carers.