MARS-A is an eight-week course for adolescents aged 14-17 experiencing psychological distress. There are eight 90-minute afternoon virtual or in-person sessions and one optional three-hour in-person weekend session. This skills-based group is based on Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for coping with stress and illness (MBSR, Jon Kabat-Zinn); and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for coping with depressive symptoms (MBCT, Williams, Teasdale, Segal, and Kabat-Zinn). 

MARS-A is a clinical program for youth run by the BC Children’s Hospital Adolescent Health Clinic, with support from BC Children’s Hospital Centre for Mindfulness and the BC Children’s Hospital Department of Psychiatry. 

The Adolescent Health Clinic accepts referral from any medical or mental health provider. See  BCCH Adolescent Health Clinic website for details.