EASE
EASE (Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions) is a group-based mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) intervention for adolescents aged 10 to 14. Developed by a United Nations (UN) agency – the World Health Organization (WHO) - with technical input from War Child, EASE helps youth to manage emotions, develop healthy coping strategies and build resilience through community-based support.
EASE is a modular, whole-family approach that provides tailored psychosocial support based on each family’s specific needs.
Why
Many young people affected by conflict and violence live with stress, anxiety and depression every day. Yet in low-income countries, as many as 85% of people experiencing mental health challenges do not have access to the support they need. For young people living through conflict, the barriers to accessing mental health and psychosocial support can be even greater and can have a lasting impact on their wellbeing, relationships and futures.
Specialist services can be scarce or unavailable, while stigma, cost, distance and disrupted health systems can make it even harder to seek help.
Making a positive impact
Where EASE is used
Colombia's armed conflict has spanned more than five decades and continues to have a profound impact on rural, Indigenous and Afro-Colombian…
War Child works with local partners in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to provide children affected by conflict and displacement with integrated…
The latest conflict between Lebanon and Israel escalated in 2024 and the situation has been unstable ever since. Children and vulnerable communities…
Uganda hosts Africa’s largest refugee population and has one of the world’s youngest populations. While the country has made significant progress…
Russia’s war in Ukraine has become a protracted humanitarian crisis, leaving millions of children in urgent need of assistance. War Child works with…
Latest news from EASE
Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions (EASE) intervention for the treatment of psychological distress in adolescents: study protocol for randomised controlled trials in Lebanon and Jordan
There are significant barriers to providing accessible, quality mental health care for young adolescents affected by adversity. In an attempt to overcome this, the World Health Organization (WHO) has developed the Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions (EASE) psychological intervention for young adolescents with internalising problems. EASE is group-based (seven sessions for adolescents, three sessions for their caregivers) and can be delivered by non-specialist providers. This paper outlines the study protocols for two trials of EASE in the Middle East - one in Lebanon and one in Jordan.
Evaluation of the Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions (EASE) intervention in Lebanon: A randomized controlled trial
This study evaluates the effectiveness of a new group-based intervention developed by the World Health Organization (Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions; EASE), implemented by non-specialists, to reduce young adolescents' psychological distress among mostly Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Adolescents aged 10 to 14 years who screened positive for psychological distress using the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) were randomly allocated to EASE or enhanced treatment as usual (ETAU) (1:1.6). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other adversities in Lebanon at the time of this research, the study was prematurely terminated, resulting in an under-powered trial sample (n = 198 enrolled compared to n = 445 targeted). Thus, no conclusions can be drawn about the comparative effectiveness of the intervention given that the sample was underpowered as a result of early termination. Both EASE and single session psycho-education home visits resulted in meaningful improvements in reducing psychological distress.
- Mental health and psychosocial support
How we adapted EASE (Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions) in Lebanon
The EASE (Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions) intervention is being tested for effectiveness in Lebanon this year. Prior to the evaluation, the intervention needed to be adapted to the cultural context of Lebanon. Here's how we did it...
- Child protection
- Mental health and psychosocial support
World Refugee Day 2025: Protecting children in East Africa
Each year on 20 June, the world recognises World Refugee Day. This annual event serves as a powerful reminder of the millions of lives uprooted by violence, families forced to flee with nothing, and children robbed of safety and certainty. It’s also a moment to honour their strength, resilience, and their right to seek protection.
- Mental health and psychosocial support
How EASE is providing Sudanese refugee families in Uganda with tools to process emotions
As conflict forces children and caregivers from Sudan to seek refuge in neighboring countries, War Child - in collaboration with CARE Uganda - are co-leading a consortium to provide families in need with psychosocial support through the EASE methodology with funding from the European Union.
- Mental health and psychosocial support
War Child’s care system in practice: Integrating holistic mental health methodologies to support children in Sri Lanka
The mental health needs of children are deeply complex and multi-layered—especially in contexts like Sri Lanka, where many, particularly adolescent girls, live with the silent burden of emotional and psychological trauma. Countless children face abuse, neglect, loss, and isolation. Stigma, systemic failures, and a scarcity of accessible services leave emotional wounds unaddressed.
Often used in conjunction with
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Child-centred stigma reduction
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