Mixed methods study of MindSKILLZ among adolescents in Zimbabwe

DETAILED SUMMARY

Importance

• Adolescents in Zimbabwe face high levels of mental health challenges, including depression and suicidal ideation, alongside stigma and limited access to support.
• There is a critical gap in scalable mental health promotion and prevention programs, highlighting the need for effective, community-based interventions.

Objective

• To evaluate whether MindSKILLZ improves mental health knowledge, coping skills, stigma, and well-being among adolescents aged 10–19 years over the course of a 12-session program in schools and community settings in Bulawayo and Harare, Zimbabwe.

Study details

• Study design: Mixed methods study (no control group)
• Data collection tools: Attendance registers; pre- and post-questionnaires; WHO-5 well-being index; 8 focus group discussions with participants; 2 focus group discussions with Coaches; 17 key informant interviews with parents, teachers, and stakeholders
• Participants: Adolescents aged 10–19 years (mixed gender, not living with HIV), youth participants, Coaches, parents, teachers, and stakeholders
• Implementation setting: Schools, youth centers, soccer academies, and churches in Bulawayo and Harare, Zimbabwe (urban and peri-urban)
• Study period: June 2024 to March 2025

Intervention

• MindSKILLZ: Twelve 60-minute sessions delivered once or twice weekly (or condensed into holiday periods) by trained near-peer Coaches (aged 18–35 years) facilitating groups of 25–30 adolescents using soccer-based, interactive life skills activities focused on mental health, coping, and social-emotional learning

Results

• 4,582 adolescents participated. 88% graduated (attending ≥70% of sessions); nearly 90% attended at least 70% of sessions.
• 951 participants completed WHO-5 assessments, showing an average increase of 16 points in well-being. 66% experienced clinically meaningful improvement (>10 points).
• Statistically significant improvements (p<0.001) observed across all measured outcomes, including mental health knowledge, positive coping skills, self-concept, perceived support, stigma reduction
• Overall improvement across pre/post indicators was +32%, exceeding typical program targets.
• Quote: “I learnt how to manage my anger and understand now that violence is not the answer.” (Participant)

Conclusions and implications

• MindSKILLZ demonstrates early signs of feasibility, acceptability, and promising effectiveness in improving adolescent mental health outcomes, supporting its potential for scale through integration into government and community systems.