START NOW Adapted: Culturally Adapted Version of START NOW

Launched by PROF. CHRISTINA STADLER · Mar 15, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The START NOW Adapted trial is studying a special skills training program designed to help young migrants aged 15 to 18 who are dealing with mental health challenges like depression and anxiety. The researchers want to find out if this culturally adapted program is more effective than regular treatment in helping improve the mental well-being of these young people. Participants will be randomly placed in either the group that receives the START NOW training or a control group that gets the usual treatment. By comparing the two groups, the researchers hope to see if the new training makes a significant difference in reducing mental health issues.

To take part in this study, you need to be a young migrant living in Switzerland and be able to understand one of several languages, including German or English. You should also show some signs of depression or psychological distress, but you cannot have severe suicidal thoughts. If you join the study, you'll be asked to engage in the skills training program or the usual treatment, providing a chance to see which approach works better for improving mental health. This trial is currently recruiting participants, and it's a great opportunity for young migrants looking for support.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Being a migrant resettled in Switzerland temporarily or permanently
• • Aged between 14 and 18
• • Able to speak, read and understand one of the following languages: German, English, Turkish, Farsi, Dari, Ukrainian, Algerian Arabic or Pashto
• • Able to give informed consent as documented by signature
• • At least sub-clinical depressive symptoms assessed by the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25); total score \> 1.75, OR
• • Having elevated levels of psychological distress assessed by Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10); total score \> 20
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Suicidality assessed in self-report by the Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R; total score \> 6) and external report by telephone clarification
• • Planning to leave Switzerland in the next 6 months
• • Concurrent CBT-based skills-training similar to START NOW