Super Skills for Life* is an intervention programme for 6-18 year olds, normally delivered in a school, which helps young people cope with emotional difficulties such as anxiety and depression.
Super Skills for Life is based on the principles of cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT) and behavioural activation and uses video-feedback and cognitive preparation as part of the treatment.
The programme provides young people with skills to:
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Enhance self-confidence, build emotional resilience, improve social skills and competence.
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Cope with stressful situations, including life changes such as the transition from primary to secondary school.
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Super Skills (adolescent version) also covers techniques to improve health through healthy eating, physical exercise, and sleep hygiene.
*Note: There are two versions of Super Skills for Life. The children version is for 6–11 year olds, and the adolescent version is for 12–18 year olds.
Super Skills for Life has 8 sessions which are typically delivered once or twice a week. It can be delivered to a group of 6–8 children, or to an individual child, for 45 minutes per session.
The sessions are structured with role play, homework, group and individual activities, video-analysis and feedback. Each of the children receives a work book to use in the sessions and to take home for practicing skills with the support of parents/carers.
It can be delivered by teachers and other non-mental health professionals after short training.
Super Skills for Life has demonstrated success and is cost-effective.
Children and adolescents who participated in Super Skills for Life showed:
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Elevated self-confidence
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Improved school performance
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Enhanced social and communication skills
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Increased involvement in social activities
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Decreased in anxiety and depression levels
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Decreased in behavioural problems