Results of pilot studies
The classes are used in Scotland as part of the Widening
Access to Self-help project an extension of the Scottish
Government funded Doing Well by People with depression
program [23] and have proved popular and accessible. An
independent Health and Social Board national pilot study
conducted by AWARE Defeat Depression, a charity in
Northern Ireland, evaluated 46 groups (356 individuals)
who took part in the classes. The General Health
Questionnaire-12 [24] found only 9.8% of participants
self-rated as ‘Happy’ at the start of the intervention
compared to over 60% at the end, which was a statistically
significant change (P < 0.001). Additionally, 77% rated
themselves as being in the ‘Depressed’ category before
the program, with only 21% depressed post-intervention.
The classes also significantly improved knowledge and
understanding in relation to stress and low mood