While the NHS’s mental health services for young people are designed to be available up to the age of 18, older teenagers often struggle to access the help they need, especially in a format and of a type that is suitable for their age and circumstances. This is partly because 16-18-year-olds are on the brink of moving to university, into work or into other kinds of post-school experience, putting them under significant social and academic pressure and leaving them with limited time and energy to access support.
The award-winning DISCOVER programme was developed by Dr Irene Sclare, Consultant Clinical Psychologist within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services at South London and Maudsley NHS Trust specifically for this age group. It teaches mental health and wellbeing and uses cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) techniques to equip sixth- form students with tools to manage stress, low mood, and anxiety.
Launched in 2011, Maudsley Charity has supported the programme throughout its development, including by funding a pilot study and subsequent adaptations to make the programme more suitable for care leavers, as well as by funding
various digital innovations and best practice guidance. Over the years, the team has consistently evaluated and adjusted the core programme based on feedback from participants, teachers, and staff.
The DISCOVER programme is now being delivered in more than 30 schools across London, with groups of up to 16 students at a time attending multimedia workshops led by psychologists, alongside one-to- one sessions and digital support to help participants maintain progress towards their goals. More than 6,000 young people have taken part in the programme to date, the majority of whom had never previously accessed psychological support of any kind. Crucially, young people can self-refer to the programme.
In May 2024, the results of a major independent clinical trial were published, showing that the benefits for young people who took part in the DISCOVER programme were maintained over time. The Brief Educational Workshops in Secondary Schools Trial (BESST) was set up by King’s College London in collaboration in collaboration with Anna Freud Centre, Bath University, University of Northampton, Middlesex University, and the DISCOVER team at South London and Maudsley (South London and Maudsley) NHS Trust.
The trial, which involved 900 sixth-form students from across England and 70 clinicians from within 15 Mental Health Support Teams, showed the DISCOVER programme successfully reduced students’ symptoms of depression and anxiety, and improved their general wellbeing and resilience. The trial also showed that the programme was cost-effective for the NHS, demonstrating its potential to be scaled up for use with students throughout England.
“We are delighted that the BESST trial has demonstrated very significant clinical improvements in mental health outcomes, especially depression. As a result, DISCOVER can now be regarded as clinically effective with this excellent evidence-base.”
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