The Communication Initiative
Development action with informed and engaged societies
The Communication Initiative
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Life Skills - Reduced Adolescent Anger, Depression, and Anxiety

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Strategy researched

Life skills programmes that addressed adolescent health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including mental health

Impact achieved

Interventions were effective in reducing symptoms of anger (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 1.234), improving life skills (SMD = 0.755) and functioning (SMD = 0.491), and decreasing PTSD (SMD = 0.327), and depression and anxiety (SMD = 0.305). The results demonstrate the benefits of life skills programmes targeting one or more mental health outcomes and co-occurring risk factors in school and community settings.

Country of study

LMICs

Research methodology

Systematic review of 33 RCTs

Journal

Behaviour Research and Therapy; 2020

Journal paper title and link

Implementation and effectiveness of adolescent life skills programs in low- and middle-income countries: A critical review and meta-analysis

Excerpt from Abstract

"Most of the RCTs, conducted across 19 LMICs, targeted students (82%) and refugees (7%), and both genders (71%). Most of the interventions were delivered by teachers (n = 12), and specialist providers (n = 11), and most were focused on high-risk groups rather than clinically-disordered populations. These interventions were effective in reducing symptoms of anger (SMD = 1.234), improving life skills (SMD = 0.755) and functioning (SMD = 0.491), and decreasing PTSD (SMD = 0.327), depression and anxiety (SMD = 0.305). Trial effectiveness was positively associated with the following life skills: interventions focused on parent-child interactions ([Beta (B)] = 0.557, p < 0.05), assessing interpersonal relations ([B] = 0.204, p < 0.05) and stress management ([B] = 0.216, p < 0.05)."