August 1, 2025
The pilot for our first program engaged 198 adolescent participants across eight areas in the Philippines (urban, semi-urban, and rural), supported by two partner organizations. We present the results of the pilot following our goals:
[1] to determine the effectiveness of the self-help toolkit in improving mental health outcomes among Filipino adolescents
Among those who completed the program, 47.7% (31 participants) improved by at least one category on the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Among participants who were initially Slightly Dissatisfied or Slightly Satisfied, 91.7% and 92.3% respectively moved up by at least one category. Overall, there was significant improvement in SWLS scores, with a medium effect size of 0.46 (p < 0.001). Participants also showed significant gains in 9 out of 14 measured mental health outcomes which are aligned with the toolkit’s lessons.
User feedback and mentor observations provided further evidence of the program’s impact. Adolescents shared meaningful takeaways from the workbook and reflected on how they applied these in their personal lives. Mentors reported that impactful concepts shared by adolescents matched workbook chapters. Parents also observed positive changes in their children including more openness and improved communication.
[2] to determine the acceptability of the self-help toolkit among Filipino adolescents, parents, and other stakeholders
The program was well-received, earning a final average rating of 9.75 out of 10. Among program completers, toolkit reading and activity completion rates were high, at 86.1% and 73.7% respectively. Participants appreciated the content and visual design of the toolkit, noting that it was engaging, easy to understand, and helped them reflect and apply mental health strategies. Mentoring was also highly valued; participants cited the supportive and approachable style of Phlourish Lay Mental Health Mentors as a key strength. Parents expressed strong support for the program, motivated by wanting to help their children go through adolescence with greater emotional awareness and balance.
[3] to determine the cost-effectiveness of the self-help toolkit
The average cost per pilot participant was $19.76 or PHP 1,100. With an average increase of 2.37 SWLS points per program completer, this results in a cost-effectiveness estimate of approximately $8.39 or PHP 439.27 per one-point increase in life satisfaction.
Overall, Phlourish finds the results of the pilots promising with identified areas for improvement including understanding mechanisms of impact, participant recruitment, and implementation models for scale. We are excited to bring the guided self-help program to more adolescents and help them lead flourishing lives.
You may read the full report of the pilot here.