Bounce Back: randomised trial of a brief, school-based group intervention for children with emergent mental health difficulties

Abstract

We report the findings of the first randomised trial of Bounce Back, a brief, school-based group intervention for children with emergent mental health difficulties, whose aim is to improve their understanding of resilience and well-being, support them to build their confidence and friendships, and provide practical skills to make positive behaviour changes. 24 primary schools (N = 326 children) were randomly allocated to deliver the intervention or continue practice as usual in a waitlist design. Children in the intervention arm of the trial worked in groups of up to 15, supported by a trained youth practitioner, over ten weekly sessions that were delivered during the school day for up to an hour. Measures of emotional symptoms, behavioural difficulties, problem-solving, and self-esteem were recorded at baseline and post-intervention follow-up. Routinely collected session attendance data were used as a proxy for intervention compliance. Intent to treat analyses revealed that Bounce Back produced significant reductions in emotional symptoms (d = − 0.21). Furthermore, complier average causal effect analyses established that intervention compliance modified this treatment effect, such that children who attended more sessions accrued greater reductions in symptoms (moderate compliance d = − 0.54; high compliance d = − 0.61). There were no intervention effects for any of the other outcomes. Collectively, these findings provide robust preliminary evidence of the efficacy of Bounce Back.

Trial registration: ISRCTN11162672