Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions (EASE)

The Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions (EASE) program was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with UNICEF. It is designed for children and adolescents aged 10 to 14 (up to 16 in some contexts), as well as their caregivers, living in communities facing challenging life circumstances. The program aims to address internalizing problems such as stress, anxiety, and depression. It consists of seven group sessions for children and adolescents, focusing on psychoeducation, stress management, problem-solving, behavioral activation, and relapse prevention. In addition, three group sessions are provided for parents or other caregivers, aiming to strengthen their understanding and skills in supporting children experiencing emotional distress.

EASE is designed to be delivered by non-professional helpers or facilitators (lay persons trained in therapeutic techniques). This approach utilizes the principle of task-shifting to expand access to psychosocial support in low-resource settings. Engaging lay facilitators helps create a supportive environment and enhances both the cultural relevance and acceptance of the program.

Following its implementation in Jordan, Lebanon, and Pakistan, EASE was introduced in Switzerland under emergency authorization in response to the outbreak of war in Ukraine. The program was implemented at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (KJPP) in Zurich, in collaboration with the University Hospital Zurich, the Spirit Network, and the Swiss Red Cross. The Spirit Network was responsible for employing Ukrainian lay facilitators, while KJPP provided clinical supervision.

This initiative represents a collaborative project and marks the first implementation of EASE in a high-income setting—specifically adapted to the needs of displaced Ukrainian children, adolescents, and their caregivers. Implementing EASE in an affluent region such as Zurich highlights the program’s adaptability and demonstrates the potential of the task-shifting approach across different healthcare settings.

To ensure quality and gain preliminary insights into the program’s effectiveness, implementation data are being collected continuously. This data collection helps identify specific challenges and requirements associated with delivering the program in a high-resource context.

Based on these insights, ongoing improvements and adaptations can be made to provide the most effective support possible for displaced Ukrainian children, adolescents, and their caregivers.
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"I am pleased that we are able to implement the WHO program in the field of child and adolescent psychiatry and psychotherapy,"
– Prof. Dr. Susanne Walitza, MD, MSc, IACAPAP WHO Delegate – Director of Clinical Implementation.
Prof. Walitza’s research focuses, among other topics, on stress, anxiety, and depression.

Collaborating Partners and Team Members

• PD Dr. Naser Morina, PhD – Co-Head of the Department for Victims of War and Torture, Researcher and Head of the Spirit Network (University Hospital Zurich)

• Christina Gunsch, lic. phil. – Head of Clinical Implementation (Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Zurich)

• Melani Walser, MSc – Deputy Head of Clinical Implementation (KJPP Zurich)

• Kim Berg, MD, MPH – Senior Clinical Implementer and Researcher (KJPP Zurich)

• Dominique Baumann, MSc – Junior Clinical Implementer (KJPP Zurich)