Presentation Information
[P-25-03]Development of a localised school-based resilience intervention in Singapore – the Resilience Intervention for Social Emotional wellbeing (RISE)
John Chee Meng Wong1,2, *Kee Juan Yeo1, Dennis Kom3, Victoria Fee3, Natasha Laura Fong2, Sarah Kathleen Lam2, Li Shan Goh2, Daniel Fung4 (1.National University of Singapore(Singapore), 2.National University Hospital(Singapore), 3.Ministry of Education(Singapore), 4.Institute of Mental Health(Singapore))
Keywords:
Resilience,Preventative intervention,Internalising symptoms,Randomised control trial,Adolescence
Adolescence is a developmental stage known for the emergence of psychopathological symptoms, which, if unaddressed early, contribute to health burdens in adulthood. The Singapore Youth Epidemiology And Resilience (YEAR) study found that 37.3% of adolescents reported clinical levels of internalising symptoms, with 23% also exhibiting low resilience. Another 10.9% of adolescents reported no symptoms but had equally as low resilience levels. This underscores the need for upstream interventions that target symptoms through building protective factors like resilience.
This poster outlines the development of the Resilience Intervention for Social Emotional wellbeing (RISE), Singapore’s first localised school-based resilience intervention targeting stress, depression, and anxiety symptoms in adolescents. RISE focuses on four key resilience domains – personal control, social support, optimism, and emotion regulation – identified in YEAR as protective factors against anxiety, and depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and academic expectation stress. The intervention includes six to eight adolescent sessions adapting (1) cognitive-behavioural principles – cognitive triangle, emotion awareness, cognitive reappraisal, relaxation, and problem solving; (2) strength-based approaches – identifying and utilising strengths in everyday challenges; (3) interpersonal skills – interpersonal effectiveness and support systems. Additionally, two parent sessions will be complemented by providing psychoeducation on adolescent needs in the local setting, role modelling, and self-regulation to foster a supportive home environment and guide adolescents to build their resilience. Content is aligned with the Singapore Education Ministry’s national Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) curriculum of instilling social-emotional competencies in students.
Effectiveness will be tested through a randomised controlled trial comparing the intervention group (CCE + RISE) with a waitlist control group (CCE only). 180 adolescents (and their parents), from collaborating secondary schools, identified with high internalising symptoms and/or low resilience (in the four core domains) will be invited. Adolescents will be assessed on their mental health symptoms, perceived stress, and resilience at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 4 months post-intervention.
This poster outlines the development of the Resilience Intervention for Social Emotional wellbeing (RISE), Singapore’s first localised school-based resilience intervention targeting stress, depression, and anxiety symptoms in adolescents. RISE focuses on four key resilience domains – personal control, social support, optimism, and emotion regulation – identified in YEAR as protective factors against anxiety, and depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and academic expectation stress. The intervention includes six to eight adolescent sessions adapting (1) cognitive-behavioural principles – cognitive triangle, emotion awareness, cognitive reappraisal, relaxation, and problem solving; (2) strength-based approaches – identifying and utilising strengths in everyday challenges; (3) interpersonal skills – interpersonal effectiveness and support systems. Additionally, two parent sessions will be complemented by providing psychoeducation on adolescent needs in the local setting, role modelling, and self-regulation to foster a supportive home environment and guide adolescents to build their resilience. Content is aligned with the Singapore Education Ministry’s national Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) curriculum of instilling social-emotional competencies in students.
Effectiveness will be tested through a randomised controlled trial comparing the intervention group (CCE + RISE) with a waitlist control group (CCE only). 180 adolescents (and their parents), from collaborating secondary schools, identified with high internalising symptoms and/or low resilience (in the four core domains) will be invited. Adolescents will be assessed on their mental health symptoms, perceived stress, and resilience at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 4 months post-intervention.