Study Highlights the Impact of YouCLIMB on Mental Health

ClimbAID’s YouCLIMB programme has the potential to improve the mental health of conflict-affected youth in Lebanon’s underserved healthcare system through bouldering group interventions.

ClimbAID is proud to announce the publication of new research in the journal Conflict and Health, highlighting the impact of its bouldering-based intervention, YouCLIMB, on the mental wellbeing of conflict-affected youth in Lebanon. The study demonstrates that bouldering can effectively alleviate mental health challenges in displaced communities, where access to formal psychological services is limited.

Published in October 2024, the study evaluated ClimbAID’s YouCLIMB programme, a psychosocial bouldering intervention for Syrian and Palestinian refugees and vulnerable Lebanese youth. Over the course of eight weeks, participants engaged in weekly bouldering sessions designed to improve mental wellbeing, enhance self-efficacy, and reduce psychological distress. By comparing the progress of participants in the intervention group with those on a waitlist, the study revealed significant improvements in mental wellbeing among the programme’s participants.

These findings are further echoed in personal statements from participants, shared during qualitative interviews currently under analysis:

One participant highlighted the unique approach of the programme, saying, “The group leaders are not only talking about climbing (…) they may tell us something and make a game about it, so we learn it through climbing.”

Another described how the programme influenced daily life: “I learned that when I face problems (…) not to rush immediately and solve them in any way that might fail, but to make plans like they taught me here.”

The programme also fostered emotional transformation: “I changed from a depressed person—now, when I laugh, I am surprised at myself.”

Increased confidence was a recurring theme, with one participant sharing, “I built self-confidence and strength, so I stopped being shy.”

Key Findings

• Reduction in Psychological Distress: Participants in the intervention group showed significantly greater reductions in psychological distress compared to the waitlist control group. Psychological distress serves as a marker for mental health conditions – its reduction therefore often means improvement in psychiatric or psychological illnesses.
• Boost in Mental Wellbeing: Participants experienced notable improvements in their overall mental wellbeing compared to the waitlist control group.
• Social Connection: Although improvements in social cohesion were not statistically significant, participants reported personal growth and a stronger sense of connection.

Unlocking the Potential to Address the Global Mental Health Crisis

With over 100 million people forcibly displaced globally in 2023, many face severe mental health challenges. Programmes like YouCLIMB offer scalable, cost-effective interventions to address this growing need both in Lebanon and beyond.

“We have seen firsthand over the years how climbing positively impacts young people who have experienced violence and severe adversity in their lives,” said Beat Baggenstos, Executive Director of ClimbAID. “Climbing offers a unique combination of physical, emotional, and social benefits. Now that we have proof of YouCLIMB’s impact, we are eager to unlock its full potential by improving and expanding the programme.”

Research Team and Support

The study was led by Dr Katharina Luttenberger (Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg) in collaboration with Dr Simon Rosenbaum (UNSW Sydney) and Dr Charbel Najem (Antonine University). The Lebanese NGO Arcenciel, which provides space for activities, and generous funding from Mammut and other partners and donors, made this study and programme possible.