Friends Programs

https://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Services/National-Educational-Psychological-Service-NEPS-/FRIENDS-Programmes.pdf

Initiative Description:Universal school-based cognitive behavior therapy prevention program, FRIENDS, delivered by health care staff or school staff compared with usual personal, social, health and education (PSHE) lessons. FRIENDS is a manualized cognitive behavior therapy program designed to develop skills to counter the cognitive, emotional and behavioral aspects of anxiety. FRIENDS helps children develop emotional awareness and emotional regulation skills by learning to replace thoughts that increase anxiety with those that help to reduce anxiety; to manage anxious feelings with relaxation techniques and to face challenges by applying problem-solving skills. The program involved nine, 60‐min, weekly sessions.

Study Results:Reduced anxiety symptoms.

Reference: Skryabina, E., Taylor, G., & Stallard, P. (2016). Effects of a universal anxiety prevention programme (FRIENDS) on children’s academic performance: results from a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 57(11), 1297-1307.

Level of Evidence: Very Good