School-Based Program Reduces Depression and Anxiety in Newcomer Students

School-Based Program Reduces Depression and Anxiety in Newcomer Students

The first randomized control trial of the school-based intervention called Supportive Transitional Resilience of Newcomer Groups (Strong) shows significant reductions in depression, anxiety and behavioral problems among refugee and immigrant students. Funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the study was led by Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and Loyola University in collaboration with Chicago Public Schools (CPS). The results were published in theAmerican Journal of Community Psychology.

Strong is a trauma-informed mental health intervention for newcomer youth in kindergarten through 12th grade, designed to support positive adjustment during resettlement and improve access to mental health services. It includes 10 weekly small group sessions and one individual session, focusing on recognizing internal strengths, identifying social supports, practicing relaxation and mindfulness, developing cognitive coping and problem-solving skills, and promoting social belonging and cultural pride. Stark is widespread nationally and internationally.

"We are pleased to provide robust scientific evidence that a strong intervention achieves what it is intended to do - helping newcomer students from diverse backgrounds," School Director of Mental Health at the Center for Childhood Resilience at Lurie Children's and Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. "If more communities “Welcoming newcomer students, our research shows that expanding stronger schools to more schools can promote positive integration and mental health.”

The study included 64 Newcomer students from 19 countries in grades third through 12. After completing the Strong, students reported that symptoms of depression and anxiety were reduced by 21 percent. Behavioral problems fell 8 percent as reported by students and 12 percent as perceived by teachers.

Interviews and focus groups with strong group facilitators and school staff found that participating students exhibited higher levels of confidence, friendships, and applied skills such as mindfulness techniques during testing and in the classroom. As one group quoted in the study shared, "All of our students talked about feeling that comfort to know that they weren't alone, that they didn't know that other kids were dealing with the same challenges, and that it was really helpful for them to hear that."

Since 2019, Center for Childhood Resilience staff have trained 325 school staff from 166 Chicago schools to implement Strong. They will continue these trainings to roll out the intervention to more schools in Chicago and beyond.

As a public education system that looks at the whole child, we measure not only academic progress but also that students have the resources needed for social and emotional well-being. We are committed to doing everything we can to uplift our newcomer students because the best of this district is built on the diversity of our community, and every student who walks through the doors of a CPS school is connected. “

Pedro Martinez, CPS CEO

In addition to Dr. Raviv's Lurie Children's co-authors are Yvita Bustos, Saadia Elahi, Rebecca Ford-Paz, Bianca Ramos and Colleen Cicchetti.

The Center for Childhood Resilience is the public health arm of the Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Lurie Children's. It is committed to increasing access to quality mental health services and prevention programs for children and youth throughout Illinois and statewide.

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