Everyone, in some shape or form, experiences anxiety. It is a part of life for everyone, and some level of anxiety is considered essential as it helps us to act to protect ourselves, and ensure our safety, in situations where we feel uncomfortable. However, anxiety can become overwhelming, with the symptoms that arise as a result subsequently persisting long after the anxiety provoking situation has ended. In some cases, anxiety can evolve into an anxiety disorder – which is characterised by excessive fear, anxiety, and worry about events or activities, and continues for at least six months (APA, 2013).
In 2019, 58 million children and adolescents, globally, were living with an anxiety disorder (WHO, 2022). According to Creswell et al (2013), anxiety disorders are among the most common psychiatric conditions in young people, yet, despite the significant public health burden associated with anxiety disorders in young people, they commonly remain untreated.
Mental Health Awareness Week (15 to 21 May 2023), organised by the Mental Health Foundation, works towards highlighting the importance of achieving good mental health for all. Celebrating its twelfth year, Mental Health Awareness Week has chosen to focus on ‘Anxiety’ – to increase public understanding of anxiety and improve awareness of the impact it can have on lives.
With this in mind, we have gathered a range of FREE learning resources from leading academics, clinicians, and researchers to raise awareness of the impact of anxiety disorders on children and young people, and to improve understanding of interventions and current research into anxiety disorders.
We encourage you to explore the learning opportunities available on our website and do please share with your networks and colleagues.
Resources
Topic Guides
Podcasts
- Podcast ‘Adventurous Play: A Prevention For Anxiety’ with Professor Helen Dodd
- Podcast ‘Transmission of Experiences of Racism, Anxiety, and Depression in Families’ with Hannah Abdalla, Malaika Okundi, and Carl Simela
- Podcast ‘The Anxiety and Grief of the Ecological Crisis’ with Dr. Laelia Benoit
Lectures, talks and discussions
- Jack Tizard 2022 International Conference ‘Updates on Anxiety in children and adolescents’ with Professor Cathy Creswell, Dr. Georgina Krebs, Dr. Eleanor Leigh, Professor Jacqui Rogers, Dr. John Walkup, and Dr. Polly Waite
- Webinar ‘Myth Busting Anxiety’ with Chloe Chessell
- CAMHS around the Campfire ‘Technology-delivered CBT for pediatric anxiety disorders’ with Dr. Matti Cervin, Dr. Maria Loades, Douglas Badenoch, Andre Tomlin, Elisavet Palaiolgou, and a lived experience perspective.
- Ask the Expert ‘Anxiety; Cues, Clues & Support for Young People in School’ with Professor Cathy Creswell and Helen Manley
Open Access Featured Papers from ACAMH journals
- JCPP Original Article ‘Internet-delivered therapist-assisted cognitive therapy for adolescent social anxiety disorder (OSCA): a randomised controlled trial addressing preliminary efficacy and mechanisms of action’, 2022. Eleanor Leigh, David M. Clark
- CAMH Special Issue Technology Matters ‘Increasing access to evidence-based treatment for child anxiety problems: online parent-led CBT for children identified via schools’, 2022. Iheoma Green et al.
- CAMH Original Article ‘Examining academic self-concept as a mediator of the relationship between anxiety and depression: A longitudinal study’, 2022. Alexandra Morales et al.
- CAMH Review Article ‘Review: Meta-analysis on mindfulness-based interventions for adolescents’ stress, depression, and anxiety in school settings: a cautionary tale’, 2022. Nilija Fulambarkar et al.
- CAMH Special Issue Review Article ‘Review: Digital experiences and their impact on the lives of adolescents with pre-existing anxiety, depression, eating and nonsuicidal self-injury conditions – a systematic review’, 2022. Katarzyna Kostyrka-Allchorne and Mariya Stoilova et al.
- JCPP Advances Original Article ‘The role of anxiety and gender in anticipation and avoidance of naturalistic anxiety-provoking experiences during adolescence: An ecological momentary assessment study’, 2022. Ashley R. Smith et al.
- JCPP Advances Original Article ‘The potential moderating role of living in a conflict area on the link between classroom psychosocial stressors, perceived stress and change in anxiety symptoms in Israeli school children’, 2022. Pia Behnsen et al.
- JCPP Advances Research Review ‘The effect of perinatal interventions on parent anxiety, infant socio-emotional development and parent-infant relationship outcomes: A systematic review’, 2022. Celia G. Smith et al.
Open Access papers for ACAMH journals
- JCPP Annual Research Review ‘Developmental pathways linking early behavioral inhibition to later anxiety’, 2022. Nathan A. Fox et al.
- JCPP Original Article ‘Anxiety symptom trajectories from treatment to 5- to 12-year follow-up across childhood and adolescence’, 2023. Sunhye Bai et al.
- JCPP Original Article ‘A multivariate genetic analysis of anxiety sensitivity, environmental sensitivity and reported life events in adolescents’, 2022. Alicia J. Peel et al.
- CAMH Original Article ‘Preventing anxiety in the children of anxious parents – feasibility of a brief, online, group intervention for parents of one- to three-year-olds’, 2022. Emily Palmer et al.
- JCPP Advances Research Review ‘The multifaceted consequences and economic costs of child anxiety problems: A systematic review and meta-analysis’, 2023. Jack Pollard et al.
- JCPP Advances Original Article ‘Understanding de novo onset of anxiety during COVID-19: Pre-pandemic socio-emotional functioning in vulnerable children’, 2022. Dolapo Adegboye et al.
- JCPP Advances Research Review ‘A scoping review investigating the use of exposure for the treatment and targeted prevention of anxiety and related disorders in young people’, 2022. Alessandra K. Teunisse and Lorna Pembroke et al.
- JCPP Advances Original Article ‘Anxiety disorders across middle childhood and early adolescence in a UK population-based cohort’, 2022. Isabel Morales-Muñoz et al.
