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By Kathleen Carmody
A research project aimed at combating anxiety in children to be implemented in archdiocesan secondary schools next term is the most
important research study to gain Catholic Education Office approval, according to a senior officer.
The study, to be conducted by senior researchers from the Universities of Sydney and New South Wales based
at the Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety Disorders (CRUfAD) at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney, is designed to prevent the development of anxiety and depressive disorders in adolescence.
“It’s the most
significant research study ever to have been undertaken by an outside organisation,” said the CEO’s Mr Peter Donnan.
“For an outside group to get involved with so many schools, and be endorsed by the seven
directors (of CEO) is unheard of.”
Centacare counsellors currently working within the selected schools will facilitate the program. The research team will work closely with the Catholic Education Office
(CEO) and Centacare to ensure the project runs smoothly for the schools involved.
Anxiety is the most common mental health problem facing children and youth today.
Approximately one in six children
suffer from anxiety severe enough to interfere with their family life, schoolwork or social functioning.
According to CRUfAD, early intervention is vitally important as research shows many anxiety and
depressive disorders begin in childhood and adolescence.
Recent figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare show symptoms of anxiety and depression are common in childhood, causing much
distress and interfering with young lives.
“This study is important because it is addressing early intervention and prevention of problems that are significant if they get a hold, or develop in adolescence
or early adulthood,” said principal researcher Dr Caroline Hunt.
“We expect it will both reduce the actual experience of anxiety and depressive symptoms, as well as prevent the development of more major
problems with anxiety and depression in later adolescence.”
Mr Donnan said the Catholic Education Office was delighted to be involved in the project, which would involve the participation of selected Year 7
students in 20 schools over a period of five years.
“This project (has) been in the pipeline for months. We’ve taken it very, very seriously. I’m delighted to say … Dr Hunt and the team from St Vincent’s have
done everything very well in an exemplary and professional fashion.”
The project, entitled The Effectiveness of an Early Intervention and Prevention Strategy for Anxiety Disorders, will involve schools in one
of two programs.
One is Friends, which focuses on building skills for dealing with situations that can lead to anxiety. The second is Seasons for Growth, which focuses on helping students cope with loss and
grief.
“The whole of the Year 7s will undergo a screening process,” explained Dr Hunt.
“The (Friends) program is directed at the more vulnerable, at-risk type (of child). On the basis of
previous research, we predict about 10 to 20 per cent of each group of students would fall into the cat-egory ...
“Part of the aim of the study is to give us more of an idea about what level of anxiety and
depressive symptoms there are in that age group across schools.”
Anxiety can be associated with fearfulness, avoiding new situations, or excessive shyness. Often the anxiety is accompanied by unpleasant
physical feelings, such as shaking, pounding heart, headaches or stomachache.
Depression can be associated with long-standing unhappiness or irritability and a lack of enjoyment of, and reluctance to take
part in, activities usually enjoyed.
All of these problems can have a significant impact on the emotional, social and academic aspects of a child’s life.
Many children need practical skills to deal
with day-to-day stresses and any major losses they may encounter in their lives. In particular, children who are more sensitive and emotional in nature will be more likely to develop problems with anxiety or
depression as adolescents or young adults.
Skills and strategies taught in the programs in this project have been specifically developed to counter anxiety and depression, as well as promote general
well-being and problem solving ability.
The strategies teach students to combine their existing strengths with the new skills, so problems can be dealt with before they become serious or debilitating.
“There are three main areas the program looks at,” Dr Hunt said.
“First, we give them strategies for understanding and exercising control over physical symptoms ... The second is looking at (the student’s)
interpretation of things in their environment which may be open to misinterpretation – they may be seeing things as more frightening than they really are.
“The third component is the behavioural side. When
things are really scary, we show them there are ways to approach these, rather than avoid situations that make you fearful.”
The study will follow up the cohort of students over the course of their secondary
education. The results from the project will provide important information about how best to tackle the ever-present problems of anxiety and depression through prevention and early intervention programs.
Anyone wishing to obtain more information about the study can contact the project research assistant, Ms Alicia Erskine (02 9332 1013) who will be happy to answer any questions and provide further details.
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