Spring Mills

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of the Building a Strong Identity and Coping Skills BaSICS program for low-income and minoritized youth aged 11 to 14 who are seeking mental health treatment and currently waitlisted for services. The study aims to confirm BaSICSs benefits by replicating earlier results, track changes in coping skills and symptom improvement during the program, and study biological stress responses related to anxiety, depression, and suicide risk. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups the BaSICS intervention group or a control group without intervention. The intervention involves 16 sessions held twice weekly, focusing on teaching coping strategies, healthy identity development, and collective social action to help manage chronic stress. Both groups complete assessments before and after the intervention, as well as follow-ups at 6 and 12 months. Participants will undergo evaluations of anxiety, depression, and suicide risk markers at multiple points, including before and after the intervention and during follow-ups at 6 and 12 months. Researchers will also measure coping skills acquisition, physiological stress responses via HPA reactivity profiles, collaborative coping, and sociocultural identity development. The total participation spans over a year with ongoing assessments to monitor changes and outcomes.