Not yet recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

A Mentalization Based Prevention Program to Foster Well-Being and Mental Health in Pre-Adolescent Children and Their Families

The FLOW project is a study helping children aged 8-10 and their families to boost their mental health and overall well-being. It's happening in Germany, Lithuania, Spain, and Switzerland. The study tests a special program designed to help children and parents understand their feelings and build stronger relationships. Children attend a mental health workshop at school, while parents might take part in training sessions or receive a guide. Researchers are looking at whether these programs improve well-being, reduce stress, and encourage people to seek help for mental health concerns, over a full year. About 5,000 children, their teachers, and parents are taking part to find the most effective approaches.

At a glance

Status

Not yet recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Svenja Taubner

Enrolment target

15,200

Start

01 Apr 2026

Estimated completion

01 Mar 2028

Mental Health Well-being

What is this study about?

The FLOW project is a large study looking at how to help children and their families improve their mental health and overall happiness, also called well-being. It's happening in elementary schools across Germany, Lithuania, Spain, and Switzerland.

The main idea behind FLOW is to teach children and their parents special skills that help them understand their own feelings and the feelings of others. This is sometimes called 'mentalization'. The project offers different kinds of support: all children will have a dedicated day at school focusing on mental health. For parents, some will attend special training sessions, while others will receive a helpful guide. The researchers want to see which of these approaches works best.

They are particularly interested in whether these programs can make children and parents feel better, reduce stress, improve how families get along, and encourage people to ask for help when they need it. They also want to see if these programs can make classrooms better places to learn and help teachers feel more effective. The study involves 5,000 children, along with their teachers and parents, and follows them for a whole year to see the long-term effects.

Key takeaways

Aims to improve mental health and well-being in 8-10 year old children and their families.
Uses a special program to teach understanding of emotions and relationships.
Children participate in school workshops, parents in training or receive a guide.
Involves 5,000 children across Germany, Lithuania, Spain, and Switzerland.
Looks at long-term effects over a full year.
Participation is voluntary, and you can withdraw at any time.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for children aged between 8 and 10 years old (and sometimes up to 11 years old) to take part. Children should be attending one of the elementary schools participating in the study.

It's also important that all children taking part, and their parents or guardians, can understand and communicate in the local language well enough for the program. This helps everyone get the most out of the activities and complete any surveys.

Children won't be able to join if their parents or guardians haven't given their permission. Also, if the information collected from a child suggests they weren't really engaged or just answering randomly, that particular set of data might not be included in the study results.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Is my child between 8 and 10 years old (or up to 11)?
Does my child attend a school that is participating in the FLOW project?
Can my child and I understand and speak the local language well?
Are all guardians willing to give permission for my child to take part?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you or your child take part in this study, the main activities will happen in school settings. All children in participating classes will attend a special project day focusing on mental health, with activities designed for their age group. Parents will be split into different groups: some might attend one of two different training programs, which vary in length, while others will receive a helpful guidebook to support their family's well-being.

Throughout the study, both children and parents will be asked to complete surveys. These surveys help the researchers understand how everyone is feeling and if the programs are making a positive difference. You'll complete surveys at the beginning, after the main program activities, and then again later in the year to check on long-term effects. The total duration of data collection and follow-up for the study will last for a full year.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study could offer several potential benefits for children and families. These include learning new ways to understand feelings, improving communication within the family, and potentially boosting overall well-being and mental health. While direct risks are expected to be very low, as the activities are designed to be supportive and educational, discussing personal feelings might be uncomfortable for some individuals. All information collected will be kept private and confidential. Remember, participation is completely voluntary, and you have the right to withdraw yourself or your child from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your usual care or school relationship.

Locations (4)

Institut für Psychosoziale Prävention-Department für Psychosoziale Medizin, Prävention und Familiengesundheit-Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg
Verified postcode
Heidelberg, Germany
Developmental Psychopathology Research Center-Institute of Psychology- Faculty of Philosophy-Vilnius university
Verified postcode
Vilnius, Lithuania
Department of Education Sciences-Universidad de La Rioja
Verified postcode
Logroño, Spain
Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences-University of Geneva
Verified postcode
Geneva, Switzerland

Common questions

What is 'mentalization based prevention'?

It's learning skills to understand your own feelings and the feelings of others, which can help you manage emotions and have better relationships.

Which countries are involved in this study?

This study is happening in Germany, Lithuania, Spain, and Switzerland.

Will my child have to take any medicine?

No, this study is about learning skills and participating in workshops or reading guidebooks, not about taking any medication.

What happens if we decide not to participate after signing up?

You are free to withdraw yourself or your child from the study at any time without needing to give a reason, and it won't affect anything for you or your child.

How long will the study last for my child and family?

The study involves collecting information and surveys over the course of a whole year to see the long-term changes.

How to find out more

Svenja Taubner, Prof.Dr.

svenja.taubner@med.uni-heidelberg.de +49(0)6221564700 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.