School-Based Mental Health Sessions Effectively Reduce Depression and Anxiety Symptoms in Youth

Recent research highlights the positive impact of implementing mental health sessions within school settings on young people's emotional well-being. Conducted by a collaboration between University College London (UCL) and the mental health charity Anna Freud, the analysis reviewed 71 studies involving over 63,000 participants aged 8 to 18 across 22 countries, including Australia and the United States. The findings demonstrate that whole-class mental health interventions can lead to modest but meaningful reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms.

Particularly, interventions rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which focus on helping youths recognize and challenge negative thoughts and behaviors, showed greater effectiveness in alleviating anxiety compared to mindfulness-based strategies or other approaches. Lead researcher Dr. Daniel Hayes emphasized that while the overall effect size might be small at an individual level, scaling these interventions can have significant public health benefits.

Professor Jessica Deighton, senior author and director at UCL's Division of Psychology & Language Sciences, noted the importance of these programs in reaching many young people, including those less likely to seek help through traditional routes. She pointed out that such school-based initiatives can help reduce stigma while equipping students with coping techniques, potentially preventing future mental health issues.

The analysis revealed that the interventions varied in delivery—ranging from single 30-minute sessions to multiple sessions weekly over several years—and were predominantly led by teachers and psychologists. The studies also compared different types of interventions: CBT-based, mindfulness, and others based on varying psychological theories. Results indicated that CBT-informed sessions specifically benefited anxiety reduction, whereas effects on depression were consistent across different approaches.

This comprehensive review underscores that, although individual effects are small, school-wide mental health programs are a valuable component of a broader strategy to promote mental well-being among young people. These findings advocate for careful, evidence-based implementation within existing educational frameworks to foster resilience and emotional health in children and adolescents.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-mental-health-sessions-schools-depression.html