FRIENDS program
program that aims to increase social and emotional skills
The FRIENDS Programs are a series of resilience-building programs developed by Professor Paula Barrett. The programs aim to increase social and emotional skills, promote resilience, and prevent anxiety and depression across the lifespan. As a prevention protocol, FRIENDS has been described as "one of the most robustly-supported programmes for internalising disorders," with "a number of large-scale type 1 randomised control trials worldwide" demonstrating its effectiveness (). The FRIENDS programs are acknowledged by the World Health Organization as effective, evidence-based prevention programs.
The FRIENDS programs incorporate physiological, cognitive, and behavioural strategies to assist children, adolescents, and adults in coping with stress and worry. Studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of FRIENDS in addressing mental health issues such as OCD, anxiety, depression, autism, and stress in children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly. Additionally, studies have indicated that protective factors such as self-esteem, self-concept, coping skills, hope, and social support are enhanced through the program. The FRIENDS protocol was designed to be delivered in both clinical and educational settings by teachers, psychologists, and allied health professionals. The FRIENDS Programs continue to be researched and developed by their author, Professor Paula Barrett, in Queensland, Australia, and by other researchers worldwide, including Professor Paul Stallard, Professor Elisabeth Utens, and Professor Bente Storm Haugland.
History
The FRIENDS Programs were developed by Professor Paula Barrett.
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