Tuning in to Teens Whole School Approach: Examining the efficacy of an emotion-focused intervention aimed at adolescents, parents, and teachers in preventing youth mental health difficulties

The TINT WSA program is a program aimed to improve teacher, parent and adolescent emotional competence and emotion socialisation, with the aim of improving relationships and reducing mental health difficulties. The program was delivered in the first half of 2019 to parents, teachers and year 8 and 9 students who were in the intervention schools (e.g., immediate start). Control schools were to receive the program the following year. However, the trial was interrupted by COVID 19 and control schools only received Day 1 of the teacher intervention, with other parts of the intervention delivered in 2021. TINT WSA intervention includes: • a one-day teacher training (Teachers Tuning in to Students) plus two 90-minute follow-up sessions. The sessions are adapted from the evidence-based Tuning in to Teens parenting Program. The one-day teacher training will aim to teach teachers skills in emotion socialisation, including skills in awareness, understanding and managing their own emotions and responding supportively when students are emotional. The first follow-up session will teach skills in helping students who present with anxiety, including excessive reassurance seeking. The second session will teach skills in responding to students anger, managing conflict and problem solving. The skills will be taught in seminar style by the program author, who is a trained Tuning in to Teens faciltiator, using psycho-education, watching DVD material, role-play and reading additional information provided to teachers. All three sessions are deliverd within a term at a time agreed by the school. • five 50-60 min classes for year 8-9 students (Tuning in to Teens for Teens) delivered by the student wellbeing team of the school who will receive a one-day training in delivery of the scripted/manualised program sessions and will be offered supervision throughout delivery of the sessions; The student sessions will focus on teaching skills in awareness and understanding of emotions in the first two sessions; skills in understanding and managing anxiety in the third session; skills in understanding and managing anger in the fourth session; and skills in awareness and responding to others emotions in the fifth session. The skills will be taught via activities and games, as well as role-plays and brief lectures. • three 90-minute evening seminar sessions for parents are a 3-session version of the 6-session evidence-based Tuning in to Teens program (see the California Clearinghouse Website http://www.cebc4cw.org/program/tuning-in-to-teens-tint/detailed for more information). The sessions are delivered by one of the program authors who is also an accredited Tuning in to Teens trainer using lecture, activities and watching DVD material.. All sessions are delivered within one school term, at times determined by the school. Recommendations put forward to the school are that student sessions are held weekly, parent seminars are held weekly, and the teacher 90-minute follow-up sessions are recommended to be held either weekly or fourtnightly, following on from the one-day teacher training day.