In this blog post, we caught up with Flo Avery, a PhD student in our team, as she prepares to launch the EASE feasibility pilot trial in two primary schools in Wales.

What is EASE?

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) 1 in 7 adolescents globally experience mental health conditions, which mainly go unseen and untreated.  EASE (Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions) is an evidence-based intervention developed by WHO that aims to support adolescents aged 10-15 years who experience distress and their caregivers. The intervention addresses a range of internalising problems, such as symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress.

EASE includes group sessions for young people focused on building skills to cope with distress and group sessions for their caregivers to promote supportive parenting and assist the young people in practising the EASE skills. The EASE skills are adapted from aspects of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and include psychoeducation, stress management, behavioural activation, and problem-solving. There are seven 90-minute group sessions for adolescents and three complementary 90-minute sessions for their caregivers/parents.

Research insights and the need for EASE

In the first year of my PhD, I conducted a systematic review of interventions which are suitable for non-clinician delivery. This review identified EASE as a promising target for future research.

A national survey which I conducted with 16-18 year olds in Wales (My Experiences Cymru) suggested that schools and colleges are an acceptable place for young people to access support, and also suggested that peer support and combatting stigma are important features of useful help.

Aims of Trial

Based on this research, I decided to trial the EASE intervention in two Welsh primary schools to see how the intervention can be optimised for delivery in Wales.

The feasibility trial will involve schools, young people, and parents in shaping the EASE programme to ensure it meets the unique needs of the community. The aim is that this feasibility trial will lay the groundwork for a future national trial.

Taking a coproduction approach

This feasibility trial is designed with a co-production approach, where those impacted by the research have input on how the intervention is adapted and presented. In each study phase, workshops will be held with parents (through charities) and young people (through schools and colleges) to ensure the materials are relevant, appealing, and effective.

School staff have already provided input on how participants are assessed for the intervention and how the timings of the sessions are organised, while young people have had their say on the look of the intervention materials, what illustrations are used, and how examples from the storybook should be adapted to make them more relatable to Welsh families.

Three phases of the feasibility trial

Phase 1: In the first phase, schools will provide input on presenting EASE to students and families. Schools will help identify young people who might benefit from EASE, with screening involving both young people and their caregivers/parents. This phase aims to identify the most appropriate measures to use in assessing how suitable the intervention is for potential participants and ensuring the intervention is practical for a wider rollout.

Phase 2: participants will take part in the intervention then after they will complete a post-intervention measure to assess changes in emotional wellbeing. This will help measure the effectiveness of the programme in reducing distress.

Phase 3: In the final phase, selected young people, caregivers/parents, and school staff will be interviewed to share their experiences with EASE and suggest improvements. These data will be analysed through qualitative thematic analysis.

In each phase, participants’ insights will be integrated into the research findings.

The Significance of the EASE Feasibility Pilot

This pilot study is expected to positively impact the wellbeing of young participants and to contribute valuable insights for a future national trial.

A key advantage of EASE is that it can be delivered by non-clinicians, addressing the challenge of long waiting times for specialist mental health support.

Through this study, I hope to improve access to effective, evidence-based emotional support for young people in Wales.