Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), founded by Professor Steven Hayes and Dr. Kelly Wilson in the 1980s, is a cognitive-behavioral intervention that promotes mindfulness and values-based action to help individuals live meaningfully despite painful thoughts and emotions. This presentation shares our experience integrating ACT into school-based mental health services in Hong Kong, where rising adolescent stress underscores the need for early intervention. The talk will present findings from a two-tier early intervention program, piloted in three secondary schools in Hong Kong, based on the DNA-V model—a youth-focused ACT framework developed and empirically validated by Professor Joseph Ciarrochi, Dr. Lousie Hayes and Ms. Ann Bailey from Australia.

The program’s first tier offers universal class-based workshops to enhance students’ psychological flexibility, while the second tier provides targeted group interventions for those with early signs of anxiety and depression problems. A pilot study of the second tier of our programme showed promising improvement in student’s well-being and confidence in coping with stress. There were also positive trends in psychological flexibility, enjoyment of learning, and life satisfaction.

The presentation will also highlight our dissemination of two DNA-V-based therapy card sets in Hong Kong, designed to facilitate value exploration with youth. The cards were co-developed by Professor Joseph Ciarrochi and Dr. Lousie Hayes from Australia. The cards were translated and localized by our team with the authors’ permission. The cards guided teenagers to reflect on their motivations and aspirations, promoting a value-driven life. To date, we have trained over 200 teachers, counsellors, social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists across Hong Kong to implement these tools, enhancing their ability to support youth mental health.

This presentation is particularly relevant for those interested in early intervention for common mental health problems and school-based support for youth. This presentation advocates further adoption of ACT to empower adolescents in navigating mental health challenges.

At the conclusion of this event, attendees will be able to:

1. Identify the core principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and the DNA-V model, enhancing their understanding of effective mental health interventions in school settings.

2. Evaluate the implementation strategies of ACT-based programs, assessing their impact on student well-being and psychological flexibility through pilot program findings and experience sharing.

3. Gain insights from DNA-V therapy card sets to facilitate value exploration among youth, enabling them to support adolescents in navigating mental health challenges effectively.