Spring Mills

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of the Building a Strong Identity and Coping Skills (BaSICS) program in low-income and minoritized youth aged 11 to 14 who are seeking mental health treatment and are on a waitlist for services. The study aims to confirm previous findings on BaSICS, observe changes in coping mechanisms and symptoms throughout the intervention, and explore biological stress responses related to anxiety, depression, and suicide risk. Participants will be randomly assigned into two groups: one group will take part in the BaSICS program, which is a psychoeducational behavioral intervention designed to teach coping skills, promote healthy identity development, and encourage collective social action; the other group will not receive the intervention. Each group will consist of 10 participants per cohort, with multiple cohorts enrolled over the study period. During the study, researchers will assess anxiety, depression, and suicide risk markers at the start, after 3 months, and during follow-ups at 6 and 12 months. They will also measure changes in coping skills and physiological stress responses to understand the biological impact of the program. The total participation timeline includes initial evaluation, intervention or control period, and follow-up assessments to monitor long-term effects.