Researchers have developed a mindfulness therapy tailored specifically to appeal to teenagers to help them cope with increasing levels of depression and mental health problems. The approach teaches participants to tune into and manage negative thought patterns that can trigger or maintain depression, and allow them instead to focus on the present moment. Developed by teams at the University of Cambridge and King's College London, the ATTEND programme – A dolescents and carers using mindfulness T herapy T o END depression – also includes sessions for parents and guardians, ensuring a family-centred approach to tackling the problem.
The programme is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research. Depression among teenagers is a serious issue in the UK, affecting approximately 140,000 young people aged 15-19. Only about 35,000 receive treatment, and of these 14,000 do not respond to the treatment while an additional 8,000 relapse after initial success.
This highlights an urgent need for more effective and sustainable solutions. Too many young people struggle with their mental health but fail to get the support they need through the NHS. Even among those who do receive support, the treatment doesn't work effectively enough for more than half of them.
We know that adult mindfulness courses can help people living with depression, but what might work for an adult is likely to be different from what will work for a teenager. That's why we've developed a more 'teen-.
