An Inexpensive Way to Address Adolescent Depression and Anxiety

The Challenge

Adolescent depression and anxiety are serious issues around the world, especially in low-resource countries such as those in Sub-Saharan Africa. Finding affordable, effective interventions is a critical need.

The Solution: Shamiri

An intervention named Shamiri, which involves group sessions teaching growth mindset, gratitude, and value affirmation, was developed to address this need. It was designed to be delivered by laypeople, making it accessible and cost-efficient.

The Study

A study was conducted in four secondary schools in Nairobi and Kiambu County, Kenya. Adolescents aged between 13 to 18 years, who showed elevated symptoms on standardized depression or anxiety measures, were included in the study. The study sought to determine whether the Shamiri intervention could indeed help alleviate depression and anxiety symptoms in these teenagers.

The Procedure

The adolescents were divided into two groups. One group was subjected to the Shamiri intervention and the other group was taught study skills as a control measure. Each group met for an hour every week for four weeks.

The Results

The results of the study were promising. Both the Shamiri intervention and the study skills group showed a reduction in symptoms of depression and anxiety. However, the Shamiri group showed a greater reduction in symptoms at different points in time after treatment.

In Conclusion

While both methods had positive effects, the inexpensive Shamiri intervention had a more significant impact, with effects lasting at least seven months. If the dropout rate can be reduced and the clinical significance of these improvements can be established, this type of intervention could be a game-changer in low-resource settings around the world.

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