PEER MENTORING INTERVENTION FOR ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION PREVENTION

The goal of this clinical trial will be to evaluate the efficacy of an AI-informed peer-mentoring program to improve stress management and social skills and reduce the risk of depressive and anxiety symptoms in healthy adolescents (12-18 years old) and young adults (18-25 years old). The main question it aims to answer is whether the peer-mentoring behavioral intervention will achieve the desired behavioral changes and reduce the emergence of anxiety and depression symptoms. Researchers will compare the AI-informed peer-mentoring behavioral intervention program with a standard peer-mentoring program and a standard health educational program. Some study participants will be trained to be peer mentors and subsequently they will be paired with slightly younger mentees and they will attend shared activities for an academic year