1305 - EFFECTIVENESS OF A SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING PROGRAMME: THE TRANSFORMATIVE, RESILIENT, YOUTH-LED (TRY) GYM

Session: D06S002 - Child and Adolescent Mental Health 2
AUTHORS:
Yuen Winnie (Hong Kong Shue Yan University ~ Hong Kong ~ Hong Kong) , Chui Raymond (Hong Kong Shue Yan University ~ Hong Kong ~ Hong Kong) , Chiu Cheung-Ying (Hong Kong Shue Yan University ~ Hong Kong ~ Hong Kong) , Fung Josephine (Hong Kong Shue Yan University ~ Hong Kong ~ Hong Kong) , Jiang Fan (Tung Wah College ~ Hong Kong ~ Hong Kong) , Beryl Fok (Tung Wah College ~ Hong Kong ~ Hong Kong)
Abstract text:
Introduction: Adolescent mental health is an escalating concern globally. While approximately one in seven youth aged 10-19 worldwide experience mental health conditions, a survey conducted in Hong Kong revealed that 24.4% of students aged 6-17 has at least one mental disorder. These alarming figures highlight the need for innovative, youth-centred approaches to prevention and improve adolescents' mental health. The Transformative, Resilient, and Youth-Led (TRY) Gym is a school-based, co-creative mental health training programme guided by positive psychology theories and the Positive Youth Development framework. It comprised three phases, including training, self-practice, and implementation of youth-created mental health promotion activities, to enhance adolescents' mental well-being.


Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the TRY Gym programme on improving resilience, competence, and overall well-being among Hong Kong secondary school students.


Method: A mixed-methods design was used to assess programme outcomes. Eighty school students were recruited and completed surveys at baseline, post-training, and post-implementation, with 19 interviewed to assess changes in resilience, different domains of competence, and mental well-being. Quantitative data were analysed using ANOVA or Friedman tests, while qualitative responses were thematically coded for emerging insights.


Results: Significant improvements were observed from baseline to post-implementation in social (χ²=20.22, p<.001), cognitive (χ²= 13.25, p = .003), and emotional competence (χ²=9.02, p=.022), resilience (χ²= 16.050, p=.001), and overall well-being (χ²= 14.68, p=.002). Additionally, positive changes in emotional competence (r=0.32, p=.004) and resilience (r=0.37, p<.001) were significantly associated with increased mental well-being. Meanwhile, improve in self-compassion was marginally significant associated with post-implementation change in mental well-being Qualitative data highlighted that, beyond gaining mental health knowledge, the co-creative process played a key role in participants' improved mental health.


Conclusions: The positive outcomes of the programme underscores its effectiveness and a co-creative and youth driven approach in improving mental health among adolescents.