Input from young people and parents has been integral to the design of the ATTEND programme, ensuring it meets the needs of families and effectively engages both teens and their carers.

The ATTEND programme, a new mindfulness therapy aimed at helping teenagers manage depression and mental health issues, has been developed by researchers from the University of Cambridge and King’s College London.

In the UK, approximately 140,000 teenagers aged 15-19 suffer from depression, yet only about 35,000 receive treatment, highlighting a significant gap in mental health support.

To reinforce the skills learned in sessions, the programme will develop an app, emphasizing ongoing support for participants.

The trial will assess recovery rates, relapse prevention, and cost-effectiveness of the ATTEND programme compared to traditional methods.

Professor Tamsin Ford, head of psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, emphasizes the lack of adequate support for young people struggling with mental health issues within the NHS.

Kat Nellist, a participant in mindfulness therapy, believes that teenagers often slip through the cracks in mental health support, as there is ample help for younger children and adults, but insufficient resources for those in their mid-teens.

This large-scale trial aims to recruit 480 teenagers and their parents to evaluate the effectiveness of the mindfulness therapy compared to standard NHS treatments for depression.

Participants will engage in eight weekly skills-based sessions, which can be attended in-person or online, and will include activities designed to be appealing to teens, such as movement breaks and snacks.

The programme also includes sessions for parents and guardians to foster a family-centered approach to mental health support.

The mindfulness therapy encourages participants to focus on the present moment rather than dwelling on distressing thoughts, which is a key aspect of its approach.

The ATTEND study is actively recruiting participants aged 15-18 who have experienced depression and received some treatment but have not fully recovered, offering financial incentives for study completion.