FRIENDS for Youth is a school-based cognitive behavioural therapy intervention for children aged between 12 to 13 years. It is delivered by a trained practitioner to groups of children for 5 to 10 weeks.
The information above is as offered/supported by the intervention provider.
12 to 13 years old
Group
FRIENDS for Youth is part of a suite of FRIENDS interventions (including Fun FRIENDS and FRIENDS for Life), which aim to improve resilience (or coping) skills in children and reduce anxiety and improve mental health and wellbeing. The intervention is delivered in schools and is based on cognitive behavioral therapy and positive psychology.
It is a universal intervention(however, it has also been implemented as a selective and indicated intervention, and has been targeted on the basis of income poverty).
Sessions involve large and small group work, workbook exercises, role-plays, games, activities, and quizzes, to help children to develop problem-solving and coping plans, to use positive self-talk and evaluate themselves realistically, and to use relaxation techniques.
12 to 13 years
Secondary school children
Disclaimer: The information in this section is as offered/supported by the intervention provider.
Science-based assumption
Many young people experience anxiety and emotional distress, which, if unmanaged, can lead to anxiety disorders and negatively impact their wellbeing
Limited resilience further increases their vulnerability to long-term anxiety issues.
Science-based assumption
Young people often lack effective coping skills to manage stress and anxiety. Many struggle to understand and regulate their emotions, leading to maladaptive responses.
Science-based assumption
Young people at risk of developing anxiety disorders or experiencing emotional distress.
Intervention
Young people learn coping skills such as understanding and managing emotions to assist in responding to uncomfortable emotions in appropriate and helpful ways.
Short-term
Young people develop greater emotional awareness and learn to apply effective coping strategies. They become better equipped to manage stressful and uncomfortable situations.
Medium-term
Improved emotional regulation and resilience
Reduced anxiety symptoms
Increased confidence in managing challenges.
Long-term
Reduced likelihood of developing anxiety disorders
Improved mental health, relationships, and overall wellbeing
Improved personal and academic success.
Secondary school children.
FRIENDS for Youth is delivered in five sessions of 2 to 2.5 hours’ duration each by a qualified practitioner such as a social worker, teacher, health worker, or psychologist, to groups of children. In the best-evidenced implementation of FRIENDS, the intervention was delivered in 10 sessions of one hour each.
The FRIENDS for Life sessions include a mix of interactive activities such as group work, role-plays, games, and workbook exercises, alongside quizzes to engage participants. Homework tasks are assigned at the end of each session to reinforce and help generalise the skills learned. The intervention is structured around three core components:
Learning and Behavioural Skills: Children develop six-step problem-solving plans, create coping strategies, and identify role models and support networks.
Cognitive Skills: Participants learn to use positive self-talk, challenge negative thoughts, evaluate themselves realistically, and apply self-reward techniques.
Psychological Skills: The intervention teaches children to recognise bodily cues related to stress, practise relaxation techniques, and develop self-regulation skills.
This structured approach helps children build resilience and manage challenges effectively.
The practitioner who delivers this intervention is a qualified practitioner such as a social worker, teacher, health worker, or psychologist.
The practitioners have eight hours of intervention training. Booster training of practitioners is recommended.
Supervision of practitioners is not required.
Intervention fidelity is maintained through the following processes:
Contact person: Casey Dick
Organisation: Friends Resilience
Email address: Licensing@friendsresilience.org
Website: https://www.friendsresilience.org
*Please note that this information may not be up to date. In this case, please visit the listed intervention website for up to date contact details.
FRIENDS for Youth’s most rigorous evidence comes from an RCT which was conducted in Ireland.
This study identified statistically significant reductions in child anxiety.
FRIENDS for youth can be described as evidence-based: it has evidence from at least one rigorously conducted RCT or QED demonstrating a statistically significant positive impact on at least one child outcome.
Reduced anxiety
Immediately after the intervention.
Improvement index
Interpretation
Study
Reduced anxiety
Immediately after the intervention.
Improvement index
Interpretation
Study
| Identified in search | 6 |
| Studies reviewed | N/A |
| Meeting the L2 threshold | 0 |
| Meeting the L3 threshold | 1 |
| Contributing to the L4 threshold | 0 |
| Ineligible | 5 |
| Study design | RCT |
| Country | Ireland |
| Sample characteristics | 62 children aged 12 to 13 in three secondary schools in a socially disadvantaged catchment area in Ireland |
| Race, ethnicities, and nationalities |
|
| Population risk factors | Children were from a socially disadvantaged area in Ireland |
| Timing |
|
| Child outcomes | Reduced anxiety (child self-report & parent report) |
| Other outcomes | None |
| Study rating | 3 |
| Citations | Rodgers, A. & Dunsmuir, S. (2013) A controlled evaluation of the ‘FRIENDS for Life’ emotional resiliency programme on overall anxiety levels, anxiety subtype levels and school adjustment. Child and Adolescent Mental Health. 20 (1), 13–19. |
The following studies were identified for this intervention but did not count towards the intervention’s overall evidence rating. An intervention receives the same rating as its most robust study or studies.
Barrett, P. M., Farrell, L. J., Ollendick, T. H. & Dadds, M. (2006).Long-term outcomes of an Australian universal prevention trial of anxiety and depression symptoms in children and youth: An evaluation of the Friends program. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. 35 (3), 403–411. This reference refers to a quasi-experimental design, conducted in Australia.
Barrett, P. M., Sonderegger, R. & Sonderegger, N. L. (2001) Evaluation of an anxiety-prevention and positive-coping program (FRIENDS) for children and adolescents of non-English-speaking background. Behaviour Change. 18 (2), 78–91. This reference refers to a quasi-experimental design, conducted in Australia.
Barrett, P. M., Sonderegger, R. & Xenos, S. (2003) Using FRIENDS to combat anxiety and adjustment problems among young migrants to Australia: A national trial. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 8 (2), 241–260. This reference refers to a quasi-experimental design, conducted in Australia.
Henefer, J. & Rodgers, A. (2013) ‘FRIENDS for Life’: A school-based positive mental health programme. Research project overview and findings. National Behaviour Support Service.
Lock, S. & Barrett, P. M. (2003) A longitudinal study of developmental differences in universal preventive intervention for child anxiety. Behaviour Change. 20 (4), 183–199. This reference refers to a quasi-experimental design, conducted in Australia.
Note on provider involvement: This provider has agreed to Foundations’ terms of reference (or the Early Intervention Foundation's terms of reference), and the assessment has been conducted and published with the full cooperation of the intervention provider.
Rated 1: Set up and delivery is low cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of less than £100.
Rated 2: Set up and delivery is medium-low cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £100–£499.
Rated 3: Set up and delivery is medium cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £500–£999.
Rated 4: Set up and delivery is medium-high cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £1,000–£2,000.
Rating 5: Set up and delivery is high cost. Equivalent to an estimated unit cost of more than £2,000.
Set up and delivery cost is not applicable, not available, or has not been calculated.
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Supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
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Enhancing school achievement & employment: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
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Rated 2: Has preliminary evidence of improving a child outcome from a quantitative impact study, but there is not yet evidence of causal impact.
Rated 2+: Meets the level 2 rating and the best available evidence is based on a study which is more rigorous than a level 2 standard but does not meet the level 3 standard.
Rated 3: Has evidence of a short-term positive impact from at least one rigorous study.
Rated 3+: Meets the level 3 rating and has evidence from other studies with a comparison group at level 2 or higher.
Rated 4: Has evidence of a long-term positive impact through at least two rigorous studies.
Rated 4+: Meets the level 4 rating and has at least a third study contributing to the Level 4 rating, with at least one of the studies conducted independently of the intervention provider.
Rating has a *: The evidence base includes mixed findings i.e., studies suggesting positive impact alongside studies, which on balance, indicate no effect or negative impact.
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