2020 ACT Check-in: Understanding & Responding to Anxiety in Secondary Schools

ACT Check-In: Understanding and Responding to Anxiety in Secondary Schools

Dr Caroline Donovan is a clinical psychologist and a Senior Lecturer in the School of Applied Psychology at Griffith University. She specialises in child anxiety disorders and has an interest in the development, empirical testing, and dissemination of, internet-based therapy; in particular the BRAVE-ONLINE programs for youth anxiety.

Behind her interest in the youth area, is a strong belief in the value of prevention and early intervention. Through preventing and treating psychological disorders in youth, problematic trajectories towards adult mental health issues can be averted. BRAVE-ONLINE is an evidence-based cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) available online to help children (8-12) and teenagers (13-17) cope with anxiety. (https://www.brave-online.com/).

Be You is a national mental health and wellbeing initiative that provides professional online learning and resources for educators and leaders to build a mentally healthy learning community that is positive, inclusive and resilient - where every child, young person, staff member and parent/carer can achieve their best possible mental health.  In particular, the learning modules within the Early Support domain (Notice, Inquire and Provide) provide further information and guidance on how to recognise behaviours which might indicate early signs of mental health issues, how to talk to children and young people about these issues, and how to provide appropriate and timely support.

Outline of presentation:

- What is anxiety and types of anxiety
- Identifying those with anxiety and internalised anxiety
- What underpins anxiety; treatment of anxiety
- The importance of the relationship with the school
- How schools can support the student with anxiety
- What teachers need to be aware of with anxiety- the avoidance cycle
- Outline of BRAVE online
- Q and A - Dr Caroline Donovan and Chauntel McNamara (St John Paul II Catholic College)
- How schools are using BRAVE effectively in their learning community

A Check-In meeting provides an opportunity for educators and wellbeing staff to chat with a Be You Consultant and engage with other educators across ACT about progressing wellbeing work as a Be You Learning Community. These events are discussion-based and interactive.

Regularly checking-in via online video meetings allows opportunities to keep your school's Be You journey alive and moving.

 

Please select a session and complete the registration below: