Childhood anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent mental health issues, significantly impacting educational, social, and health functioning. However, access to professional support for these disorders remains limited. The study titled "Seeking and accessing professional support for child anxiety in a community sample" by Reardon, Harvey, and Creswell (2019) provides valuable insights into the barriers and facilitators parents face when seeking help for their children. This blog aims to help practitioners improve their skills by implementing the outcomes of this research or by encouraging further research.
Key Findings
The study involved parents of 222 children aged 7-11 with elevated anxiety symptoms. Key findings include:
- 64.5% of parents of children with an anxiety disorder sought professional help.
- Only 38.4% reported that their child received professional support, and less than 3% received evidence-based treatment like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
- Common barriers included difficulties in recognizing clinically significant anxiety, lack of help-seeking knowledge, perceived negative consequences, and limited service provision.
Implications for Practitioners
Practitioners can leverage these findings to improve their approach in several ways:
1. Educate Parents and School Staff
Providing tools and training to help parents and school staff differentiate between normal developmental anxiety and clinically significant anxiety can be crucial. This could involve workshops, informational brochures, and online resources.
2. Improve Access to Evidence-Based Treatments
Efforts should be made to increase the availability of evidence-based treatments like CBT within schools. Collaborating with educational institutions to integrate mental health services can make these treatments more accessible.
3. Address Stigma and Misconceptions
Many parents hesitate to seek help due to stigma or the belief that their child's anxiety will improve without professional intervention. Practitioners should work on destigmatizing mental health issues and educating parents about the importance of early intervention.
4. Enhance Service Provision
Addressing the limited service provision by advocating for more resources and streamlined referral processes can significantly improve access to care. This includes reducing waiting times and making it easier for parents to know who to contact for help.
Encouraging Further Research
While this study provides a comprehensive overview, there is always room for further research. Practitioners are encouraged to explore:
- Longitudinal studies to track the long-term impact of early intervention on childhood anxiety disorders.
- Comparative studies to evaluate the effectiveness of different intervention strategies.
- Research on the role of cultural and socio-economic factors in help-seeking behaviors.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Seeking and accessing professional support for child anxiety in a community sample.
