The FRIENDS emotional health prevention programme: 12 month follow-up of a universal UK school based trial.
A universal cognitive behaviour therapy emotional health programme, FRIENDS, was provided in schools by trained school nurses to 106 children aged 9/10. Anxiety and self-esteem were re-assessed in 63 children one year after completing the programme. The significant improvements in emotional health identified 3 months after FRIENDS were maintained 12 month after completing the programme. Of the 9 children identified at baseline as high risk, 6 (67%) had moved into the low risk category by the 12 month follow-up. Of the low risk children, none had become high risk by follow-up. The study conclusions are limited by a small sample size and the absence of a comparison group. They are however consistent with previous studies and suggest that FRIENDS delivered in schools as a universal intervention can have a significant medium term effect upon emotional health.
Stallard
Paul
P
Mental Health Research & Development Unit, University of Bath, Wessex House, Level 7, Bath BA2 7AY, UK. p.stallard@bath.ac.uk
Simpson
Neil
N
Anderson
Sue
S
Goddard
Meghan
M
D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003479:Curriculum; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012573:School Nursing / Q000193:education; D012649:Self Concept; D006113:United Kingdom