Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health最新文献

{"title":"Validating the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions in Amharic for Ethiopian paediatric patients.","authors":"Muluwork Denberu, Bogale Worku, Nathan J Lowry, Janna Patterson, Terrell Carter, Jian-Ping He, August Wei, Patrick Ryan, Jeffrey Bridge, Lisa M Horowitz, Yonas Baheretibebs, Kassahun Habtamu","doi":"10.2989/17280583.2026.2653770","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2989/17280583.2026.2653770","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Healthcare providers in Ethiopia require validated tools to screen paediatric patients for suicide risk in Amharic, the official language of Ethiopia.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) tool in Amharic among Ethiopian paediatric patients.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This cross-sectional instrument validation study was conducted from February 2021 to September 2022. Paediatric patients were recruited from the emergency department, outpatient clinics, and medical inpatient units at Tikur Anbessa Specialised Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Paediatric patients (aged 10 to 18 years, inclusive) were enrolled. Participants completed the Amharic language version of the ASQ, the index test. A brief suicide safety assessment administered by a clinician served as the reference standard for validation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 159 paediatric patients were enrolled; 42 youth (26%) screened positive on the ASQ, and 10 (6%) were deemed \"at risk\" for suicide by a clinician. Compared to the reference standard, the ASQ had a sensitivity of 1.000 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.000 to 1.000), specificity of 0.785 (95% CI: 0.719 to 0.851), and area under the curve value of 0.890 (95% CI: 0.860 to 0.926). While most youth (<i>n</i> = 117; 74%) felt comfortable being screened for suicide risk, only 52.2% (<i>n</i> = 83) thought medical providers should ask youth about suicide.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The Amharic version of the ASQ demonstrated strong psychometric properties and appears to be a valid suicide risk screening tool in the sample population. Future research should explore the feasibility and acceptability of screening Ethiopian paediatric patients for suicide risk.</p>","PeriodicalId":45290,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147857456","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigation of behavioural inhibition, emotional expression, and aggression in childhood separation anxiety disorder.","authors":"Melike Kevser Gul, Yesim Savasci, Esra Demirci, Sevgi Ozmen","doi":"10.2989/17280583.2026.2658535","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2989/17280583.2026.2658535","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The relationship between separation anxiety disorder (SAD) and behavioural inhibition remains unclear. Additionally, aggression and emotional expression in SAD have not yet been systematically studied. This study aimed to investigate behavioural inhibition, aggression, and emotional expression in children with SAD.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study included 30 treatment-naive patients with SAD (46.7% girls) and 30 healthy controls (HC) (33.3% girls), aged 60 to 84 months (70.76±9.44 months). The parents completed the Separation Anxiety Assessment Scale-Parent Version (SAAS-P), the Child Emotion Expressiveness Questionnaire (CEEQ), the Behavioural Inhibition Questionnaire (BIQ), and the Children's Aggression Scale-Parent Version (CAS-P).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Total and subscale scores of the SAAS-P and BIQ were significantly higher in patients with SAD. Conversely, the SAD and HC groups' CEEQ and CAS-P subscale scores did not differ significantly. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine whether behavioural inhibition predicts SAD status. The BIQ score significantly and positively predicted SAD status (OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.04-1.14, <i>p</i> < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Behavioural inhibition was significantly associated with SAD. Early recognition and intervention for behavioural inhibition can alter the development and course of the disorder.</p>","PeriodicalId":45290,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health","volume":" ","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147857449","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing the psychometric properties of the WHO-5 Well-being Index in conflict-affected humanitarian contexts.","authors":"María Cecilia Dedios-Sanguineti, Felipe Buitrago-Rubiano, Mónica González-Gort, Imrana Buba, Diana Ihring, Crystal Stewart, Camilla Fabbri","doi":"10.2989/17280583.2026.2652959","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2989/17280583.2026.2652959","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Children and adolescents living in conflict-driven humanitarian contexts face heightened risks of violence and abuse, which can significantly affect their immediate and long-term well-being. The evaluation of interventions to support adolescent well-being in these settings requires a validated, simple, yet robust measure of the broad construct of psychological well-being.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to validate the WHO-5 Well-being Index, a short, self-reported instrument designed to assess subjective psychological well-being, for use with adolescents in two conflict- affected humanitarian contexts, including Colombia and Nigeria.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Participants (<i>N</i> = 172) were aged 13 to 17 years and resided in Colombia (<i>n</i> = 90) or Nigeria (<i>n</i> = 82). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to assess the WHO-5 Index psychometric properties.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A one-factor structure of the WHO-5 Well-being Index was supported, showing high internal consistency (<i>α</i> and ω > 0.80), excellent convergent validity (assessed with the Kidscreen-27 scale, <i>r</i> = 0.797, <i>p</i> < 0.01), and acceptable discriminant validity (assessed with the PHQ-9 scale, <i>r</i> = -0.343, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Confirmatory factor analysis supported the one-factor model, initially with poor fit (CFI = 0.972, TLI = 0.944, RMSEA = 0.105). After accounting for covariance between items 3 and 4, the model fit improved significantly (CFI = 0.998, TLI = 0.994, RMSEA = 0.034).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study reaffirms the WHO-5 Well-being Index as a valid instrument to assess the well-being of Spanish- and Hausa-speaking adolescents who have experienced family separation, abuse, violence, neglect, and/or exploitation in humanitarian contexts.</p>","PeriodicalId":45290,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health","volume":" ","pages":"1-16"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147844333","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Interventions for preventing eating disorders in adolescents: A scoping review.","authors":"Eloha Flória Lima Santos, Keila Priscila Dos Santos Avelar, Carmem Beatriz Neufeld","doi":"10.2989/17280583.2026.2649939","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2989/17280583.2026.2649939","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Eating disorders (EDs) are serious and prevalent diagnoses during adolescence. Therefore, prevention efforts are strongly recommended. However, there is a gap in the literature regarding a comprehensive understanding of preventive strategies for EDs in adolescents, particularly concerning different contexts and methodological approaches.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to map and describe preventive interventions, considering various contexts, modalities, and components.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A scoping review was conducted following the JBI and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Primary studies on psychosocial interventions for ED prevention in non-clinical adolescent samples, published between 2013 and 2025 in Portuguese, English, or Spanish, were included. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, LILACS, and CINAHL. Publications underwent screening, selection, and data extraction followed by synthesis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twenty-one studies were included, most with exploratory designs. The interventions were predominantly group-based, in-person, and grounded in cognitive dissonance theory, with a mean participant age of 14.39 years (SD = 1.42 years). The main strategies were psychoeducation, group discussion, and practical activities. The main topics were critiques of appearance ideals, media literacy, body image, self-esteem, physical activity, and healthy nutrition.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Preventive psychosocial interventions for EDs among adolescents are expanding, with a trend towards adapting evidence-based programmes to diverse contexts, countries, cultures, age groups, and specific populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":45290,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health","volume":" ","pages":"1-31"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147730265","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Examining the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on late-adolescent learners in the Western Cape, South Africa.","authors":"Bronwyne Coetzee, Phillipa Haine, Marnus Janse van Vuuren, Ashraf Kagee","doi":"10.2989/17280583.2026.2649249","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2989/17280583.2026.2649249","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly disrupted education in South Africa, yet quantitative investigations into its mental health impact among learners in late adolescence remain scarce. This study examined associations between COVID-19-related cognitive appraisals and psychological outcomes among late-adolescent learners (aged 18-19 years), a group navigating the transition to adulthood amid substantial educational and social uncertainty.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A convenience sample of 239 late-adolescent learners (mean age = 18.13 years; 72% female) from seven public schools in informal and semi-urban communities in the Western Cape completed an online survey between March and August 2022. Standardised measures assessed symptoms of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcohol use, fear of COVID-19, perceived vulnerability to disease, and COVID-19-related worry.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>High levels of psychological distress were observed within the sample: 59% reported clinically significant depressive symptoms, 39% severe anxiety, 35% clinically significant PTSD symptoms, and 13% alcohol use suggestive of dependence. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that fear of COVID-19 was a significant predictor of all four mental health outcomes (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Perceived vulnerability to disease independently predicted PTSD symptoms (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and alcohol use (<i>p</i> < 0.01). <i>Conclusion</i>: These findings highlight the importance of school-based mental health interventions that target learners' cognitive appraisals of threat and vulnerability during periods of educational disruption, with implications for strengthening preparedness for future public health emergencies.</p>","PeriodicalId":45290,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health","volume":" ","pages":"1-16"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147717478","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The social determinants of depression among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review.","authors":"Isayas Wubshet, Kibur Engdawork, Semere Gebremariam, Clementine Kanazayire, Pamela Abbott","doi":"10.2989/17280583.2026.2646171","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2989/17280583.2026.2646171","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Adolescence (ages 10 to 19 years) is a critical developmental stage marked by biological, psychological, and social transitions that heighten vulnerability to depression. During this period, depression is often under-recognised and may persist in adulthood, negatively affecting academic performance, social relationships, and well-being. Social determinants shape vulnerability and resilience, yet research on these factors, especially in low- and middle-income countries, remains limited.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This scoping review aimed to examine the role of social factors in influencing adolescent depression in low- and middle-income countries.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Following the Arksey and O'Malley framework, empirical studies published in English between 2010 and 2023 were reviewed. Forty-seven eligible studies were identified through searches of Google Scholar, PubMed, PsychINFO, Web of Science, Sociological Abstracts, Embase, and manual sources. Data were coded and synthesised using thematic and narrative analyses. Reporting adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Socio-structural factors such as gender, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and family structure were identified as risk factors. Stressors within the family, school, and neighbourhood, including conflict, harsh parenting, maltreatment, academic pressure, peer rejection, bullying, and neighbourhood violence, also contributed to depressive symptoms. In contrast, social support from family, peers, and teachers emerged as a protective factor.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Most studies relied on atomisation, which overlooks how social factors contribute to cumulative stress by shaping adolescents' social settings and leading to depressive symptoms. Critical gaps remain, particularly the under-exploration of neighbourhood influences and out-of-school adolescents.</p>","PeriodicalId":45290,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health","volume":" ","pages":"1-23"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147717912","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"I don't want to miss a thing: Psychometric properties of the FoMO Scale and its mental health correlates in Indian Adolescents.","authors":"Nisha Phakey, Karishma Godara, Krishan Kumar Pandey, Ashutosh Kumar","doi":"10.2989/17280583.2026.2636281","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2989/17280583.2026.2636281","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) is a widespread apprehension that arises when people believe that others are engaging in enjoyable activities without their presence. The FoMO scale has been widely used, but confirmatory factor analysis is needed to validate its structure.</p><p><p>This study aims to analyse the psychometric properties of the FoMO scale among Indian adolescents and explore its mental health correlates.</p><p><p>The sample consisted of 708 adolescents aged 13 to 19 years. Both Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were conducted to evaluate the factor structure of the FoMO scale. Additionally, the study assessed psychological correlates using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress scale and the Satisfaction with Life Scale.</p><p><p>EFA revealed three factors: societal connectivity, social discomfort, and self-perception. CFA confirmed this structure with acceptable goodness-of-fit indices. The scale showed good reliability and validity. Although the correlations with psychological variables were not statistically significant, they do contribute to the contextual understanding of the broader psychological landscape of FoMO.</p><p><p>The study confirms the three-factor model of the FoMO scale among Indian adolescents, emphasising cultural differences in the experience and measurement approaches towards FoMO. This research reiterates the need for culturally sensitive adaptations of psychometric tools and provides preliminary insights into the psychological correlates of FoMO. Further, there is a need for interventions that address the social-emotional dimensions of digital engagement among youth.</p>","PeriodicalId":45290,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147482003","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Compassion-Focused Therapy for non-suicidal self-injury, shame, and self-criticism in adolescent girls: A pilot study.","authors":"Maryam Gholizadeh, Parisa Pourmohammad","doi":"10.2989/17280583.2026.2629368","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2989/17280583.2026.2629368","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Background:</i> Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is common among adolescents and is often associated with suicidal behaviour. NSSI generally functions as a dysfunctional emotion regulation strategy maintained by shame and self-criticism. Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) aims to modify these processes through developing self-compassion.<i>Objective:</i> This pilot study evaluated the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of CFT in reducing NSSI behaviours, shame, and self-criticism in adolescent girls engaging in NSSI.<i>Methods:</i> In this pilot quasi-experimental study, 30 self-harming adolescent girls (mean = 16.76 years; SD = 1.38 years; range = 16 to 19 years) from Tabriz, Iran (2024), were recruited via convenience sampling and randomly allocated to an experimental group (<i>n</i> = 15) receiving eight weekly 70-minute CFT sessions based on Gilbert's protocol, or a no-intervention control group (<i>n</i> = 15). The State Shame and Guilt Scale-shame subscale, the Levels of Self-Criticism Scale-internalised subscale, and the Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory were administered at pre-test and one-week post-intervention. Data were analysed using MANCOVA and follow-up univariate ANCOVAs (controlling for baseline scores) with Bonferroni correction.<i>Results:</i> Compared to the control group, the CFT group showed significant and large reductions at post-test in NSSI severity (adjusted mean diff: -3.20, <i>F</i>(1,27) = 76.75, <i>p</i> < 0.001, <i>η</i>² = 0.74), shame (adjusted mean diff: -3.59, <i>F</i>(1,27) = 35.50, <i>p</i> < 0.001, <i>η</i>² = 0.57), and self-criticism (adjusted mean diff:-16.53, <i>F</i>(1,27) = 215.59, <i>p</i> < 0.001, <i>η</i>² = 0.89). The control group showed no significant changes.<i>Conclusion:</i>This study provides preliminary evidence supporting the feasibility and potential effectiveness of CFT in concurrently reducing NSSI behaviours, shame, and self-criticism among adolescent girls. Findings support CFT's potential as a targeted intervention addressing core mechanisms underlying NSSI in this vulnerable population, warranting further investigation with larger samples and longer follow-ups.</p>","PeriodicalId":45290,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health","volume":" ","pages":"1-14"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147378958","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hidden struggles: Psychological symptoms in a large cohort of adolescents in Northern Italy in the post-COVID era.","authors":"Alberto Milesi, Federica Maressa, Rosaria Trichilo, Martina M Mensi, Marika Orlandi, Renato Borgatti, Luca Capone","doi":"10.2989/17280583.2026.2614435","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2989/17280583.2026.2614435","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>This study explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological well-being of adolescents in the province of Pavia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analysed data from a non-clinical sample of 1 779 adolescents, aged 13 to 19 years, to assess internalising and externalising psychological symptoms. Participants completed a comprehensive self-report survey.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our findings reveal significant sex differences, with females showing higher levels of internalising symptoms such as anxiety and depression compared to males. No significant sex differences were found for externalising symptoms. We examined correlations between these psychological symptoms and factors like age, suicidal ideation, and eating problems.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study underscores the prevalence of mental health challenges among adolescents in the post-pandemic context and highlights the need for targeted interventions. Our findings may inform efforts to enhance adolescent well-being by addressing both risk and protective factors in collaboration with families and educational communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":45290,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147311094","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Feasibility of Katatagan Plus as a mental health early intervention for at-risk youth.","authors":"Trixia Anne C Co, Maria Regina M Hechanova, England Danne B Castro, Camille Therese C Yusay, Fessa R Egusquiza","doi":"10.2989/17280583.2025.2580472","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2989/17280583.2025.2580472","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Background:</i> Mental health concerns have been steadily rising worldwide, including in the Philippines. Given the shortage of mental health specialists in the country, it is crucial to make psychosocial support more accessible and available to Filipino youth.<i>Objective:</i> This study evaluated the feasibility of implementing <i>Katatagan</i> Plus, a resilience intervention for youth at risk of mental health issues, in seven local government units across two regions in the Philippines. Specifically, it aimed to measure the effectiveness of the <i>Katatagan</i> Plus program in developing resilience through adaptive coping, socio-emotional skills, and well-being, and reducing the risk of substance use and depressive symptoms.<i>Method:</i> Seventy-one adolescents screened as being at risk for mental health problems were invited to participate in the program. Most (68%) were participants in community-based programs facilitated by municipal health officers, whereas the remaining (32%) participated in school-based programs facilitated by school guidance personnel. Pre- and post-test surveys were conducted to measure program efficacy and changes in mental health outcomes.<i>Results:</i> Significant improvements in adaptive coping and well-being were observed from the pre- and post-tests. The proportion of participants with scores indicating good well-being rose from 49% to 70% before and after the program. There was also a significant decrease in depression symptoms and substance use. No differences were found in terms of setting/service provider for adaptive coping, substance use, and depression. However, improvements in well-being were greater among students in school-based settings compared to community settings.<i>Conclusion:</i> Results suggest the potential of this early mental health intervention for young people at risk, as well as the need for referrals for those who may need more specialised support.</p>","PeriodicalId":45290,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145991370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}