Self-Compassion For Youth In Small City Centres: A School-Based Pilot Project

The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the benefits of a self-compassion intervention that was delivered in school to grade nine youth during their transition to high school in a small city centre in Ontario, Canada. All participants were assigned female at birth. Self-compassion (SC) was identified as an important intervention for this population based on a community-based participatory research (CBPR) process that included youth living with mental health challenges, mental health practitioners, gatekeepers and academics. The CBPR process helped with problem identification and the modification of a self-compassion intervention for use in school for youth. The modified SC programme was delivered in two physical education classes, using a 2 x 2 crossover design (i.e. intervention or school as usual). Self-report measures focused on increasing mental health (e.g. well-being, values, self-compassion) and decreasing mental illness (e.g. depression, anxiety) were collected at baseline and pre-post intervention. Data analysed via ANCOVAs and non-parametric tests indicate no statistically significant results. At baseline, most students had relatively average scores for mental health and mental illness; therefore, floor and ceiling effects may have impacted measurable change. In this relatively healthy group, the benefits of the SC programme may be the capacity to continue to accept and support oneself in facing challenges, as is the overall goal of self-compassion. Future research may focus on using self-compassion interventions with youth in clinical settings or a longitudinal analysis with a comparison group.