Mental health program for at-risk adolescents in Malaysia
Official title: Promoting Mental Health Among At-risk Adolescents in Malaysia
Run by University of Roehampton · NCT07138664 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This will test a school-based program called Super Skills for Life against a study-skills control to see if it reduces anxiety and depression and improves wellbeing in 12–14-year-olds from low-income Malaysian communities.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 12 Years to 14 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 428 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Roehampton Academic / other |
| Locations | 5 sites (Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and 4 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | August 2025 |
| Main results expected | September 2026 |
| Study ends | September 2026 |
| Registry record updated | August 24, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07138664 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adolescents aged 12–14 (Forms 1–2) in participating low-income Malaysian schools who score in the moderate-to-severe range on the DASS-21 and have parental consent, excluding those with diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorders or intellectual disability.
✕Probably not a fit
Students without moderate-to-severe anxiety or depression, those outside the 12–14 age range, those with excluded diagnoses, or those not attending participating schools are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This two-arm cluster randomized controlled trial compares the Super Skills for Life (SSL) program to a Study Skills Programme (SSP) control delivered in classrooms across at least 20 secondary schools serving low-income rural and urban communities in Malaysia. Adolescents aged 12–14 who screen with moderate to severe symptoms on the DASS-21 will be invited and classrooms randomized 1:1 with stratification by school size, class/form, and urban versus rural location. Primary outcomes are reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms and improved mental wellbeing measured at baseline, immediately post-intervention (8 weeks), and at 6- and 12-month follow-ups, with the primary endpoint at 12 months; the protocol also includes cost-effectiveness and implementation analyses. The target sample is 428 adolescents (214 per arm) to provide adequate statistical power.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could lower anxiety and depression symptoms and improve long-term wellbeing for vulnerable adolescents and be scaled across schools.
How similar studies have gone: School-based cognitive-behavioral programs, including prior implementations of Super Skills for Life, have shown positive effects on youth anxiety and depression in other countries, though results vary and evidence in low-income Malaysian settings is limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Adolescent (aged 12-14) who are in the first two years (Form 1 and Form 2, equivalent to year 7 and 8 in the United Kingdom school system, respectively) in lower secondary schools. 2. Adolescents score moderate to severe levels of anxiety and/or depression on the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) based on the original cut-off norms (DASS-21 Anxiety scale ≥ 10 and/or DASS-21 Depression scale ≥ 14). 3. Adolescent's parent/carer provides written consent. Exclusion Criteria: (1) Being diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders. (2) Being diagnosed with intellectual disability. \-
Where it's running
-
Fakulti Psikologi Dan Pendidikan
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia Recruiting -
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia Recruiting -
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia Recruiting -
Universiti Malaya
Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Malaysia Recruiting -
Sunway University
Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Cecilia A Essau, PhD
- Email: c.essau@roehampton.ac.uk
- Phone: +442083923647
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
TAG TEAM: Group CBT for minority stress in trans and gender diverse teens
This trial tests a group CBT program to help trans and gender diverse adolescents cope with minority stress and improve mood and wellbeing.
-
Single-session intervention to change ambiguity aversion
This trial tests whether one brief intervention can change how adults with intolerance of uncertainty and anxiety make ambiguous decisions and how their brains respond.
-
Examining how parent-adolescent communication affects mental health treatment outcomes in adolescents
This study looks at whether better communication between parents and their teenagers can lead to improved mental health treatment results for adolescents over six months.
-
See if preoperative anxiety affects recovery after major digestive cancer surgery
This study tests whether anxiety before surgery is linked to more complications after major digestive cancer operations in French-speaking adults.
-
Mindful Smartphone Use: A Mindfulness-Based Program for Teens with Sleep and Mood Challenges
This study tests Mindwire, a mindfulness-based program, to see if it helps teens with problematic phone use who also have depression or anxiety.
-
Tele-based wellbeing centres for women's mental health in Bangladesh
A randomized trial tests whether tele-counselling for depression and anxiety in Bangladeshi women is as effective as in-person counselling.
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.