Skills for Adolescent WELLbeing study

The Wolfson Centre for Young People's Mental Health is setting up an exciting new research study for young people who have a parent with depression.
Our research centre has a focus on reducing anxiety and depression in young people. This includes finding ways to prevent depression in young people before it develops.
As part of this work, the Wolfson Centre will run a new study called Skills for Adolescent WELLbeing (SWELL).
It will involve undertaking a trial of an online group psychological intervention for young people aged 13-17 years, who have a parent with a history of depression and who have mild symptoms of depression themselves or have experienced depression in the past.
The aim of the study is to examine whether this online group therapy reduces depression and improves functioning in the young people who receive it.
Who can take part?
Young people aged 13-17 years old who have been diagnosed with depression before, or who have mild symptoms of depression at the moment.
Young people must also live with a parent who has been diagnosed with depression recently or in the past, who is also willing to take part in the study.
What does it involve?
Young people will be randomly allocated to either:
- An online group to learn skills for supporting wellbeing
- Continue with the usual treatment they receive
Parents who are depressed at the start of the study will have their depression treatment optimised.
This will involve a personalised 12-week program including treatment from the trial doctors and clinical team.
Questionnaires and interviews will be completed with young people and parents at time points across the study.
How to take part
The research team is looking for parents with a history of depression who also have a child aged 13-17 years old.
If this applies to you and your child, and you are interested in taking part, please complete an expression of interest form.
You can also contact the Wolfson Centre research team via email SWELL@cardiff.ac.uk if you have any questions.
We are looking for parents with a history of depression, who have a child aged between 13-17 years to take part in the Skills for Adolescent Wellbeing study.