Culturally adapted skills training for migrant youth mental health
Official title: Testing the Effectiveness of the Culturally Adapted Skills Training START NOW to Reduce Mental Health Problems in Adolescent Refugees
Run by University Psychiatric Clinics Basel · NCT06324864 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests a new skills training program designed for young migrants aged 14 to 18 in Switzerland to see if it can help improve their mental health and resilience against issues like depression and anxiety.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 14 Years to 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 80 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University Psychiatric Clinics Basel Research network |
| Locations | 1 site (Basel, Canton of Basel-City) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | March 13, 2024 |
| Main results expected | December 2026 |
| Study ends | December 2026 |
| Registry record updated | February 19, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06324864 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are migrant adolescents aged 14 to 18 residing in Switzerland who exhibit sub-clinical depressive symptoms or elevated psychological distress.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who are suicidal or planning to leave Switzerland within the next six months may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a culturally adapted version of the START NOW skills-training program for youth migrants aged 14 to 18 in Switzerland. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group receiving the adapted skills training or a control group receiving treatment as usual. The study focuses on addressing mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, which are prevalent among adolescent refugees. By tailoring the intervention to fit cultural contexts, the trial seeks to improve psychological health and resilience in this vulnerable population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly reduce mental health problems in migrant youth, enhancing their overall well-being.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown success with culturally adapted interventions for mental health, suggesting potential for this approach in migrant populations.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Being a migrant resettled in Switzerland temporarily or permanently * Aged between 14 and 18 * Able to speak, read and understand one of the following languages: German, English, Turkish, Farsi, Dari, Ukrainian, Algerian Arabic or Pashto * Able to give informed consent as documented by signature * At least sub-clinical depressive symptoms assessed by the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25); total score \> 1.75, OR * Having elevated levels of psychological distress assessed by Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10); total score \> 20 Exclusion Criteria: * Suicidality assessed in self-report by the Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R; total score \> 6) and external report by telephone clarification * Planning to leave Switzerland in the next 6 months * Concurrent CBT-based skills-training similar to START NOW
Where it's running
-
University Psychiatric Clinics Basel
Basel, Canton of Basel-City, Switzerland Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Janine Bacher, MSc — University Psychiatric Clinics Basel
- Study coordinator: Janine Bacher, MSc
- Email: janine.bacher@upk.ch
- Phone: +41 61 325 8048
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.