Addressing the rise of mental health issues among adolescents in low-income regions, researchers have initiated a large-scale trial across North Macedonia and Moldova. This study aims to evaluate innovative strategies to support both parents and teens effectively.
Methodology and Implementation
The project employs a multicountry cluster randomized factorial trial, focusing on three supplementary components added to the existing Parenting for Lifelong Health programme. These components include mental health tools for adolescents inspired by UNICEF’s comics, peer support initiatives based on UNICEF’s ‘I Support My Friends’ program, and an engagement booster designed to improve attendance and completion rates through incentives. A total of 720 families across 64 clusters are participating in this extensive research effort.
Expected Outcomes and Evaluation
Primary measures of success involve assessing internalizing problems among adolescents, levels of social support, family dynamics, and program attendance rates. Additionally, the study will examine broader mental health aspects of both caregivers and teenagers, alongside implementation effectiveness and cost efficiency. Data collection is scheduled at the study’s outset and approximately eight weeks following the intervention, with statistical analyses planned to determine the impact of each intervention component.
Inferences:
- The integration of comic-based mental health tools may enhance engagement among adolescents.
- Peer support systems could play a crucial role in reducing internalizing problems.
- Incentivizing participation is expected to significantly improve program retention rates.
The research has secured ethical approvals from institutions in Austria, North Macedonia, and Moldova, ensuring adherence to international standards. Findings will be shared through various channels, including academic publications, conferences, and public forums, to inform policymakers and practitioners effectively.
Extensive insights from this study could shape future interventions for adolescent mental health in similar socio-economic contexts, offering scalable solutions and unearthing cost-effective strategies to support families and improve overall well-being among youth.
This article has been prepared with the assistance of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more details, please refer to our Terms and Conditions. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author.
