beyondblue launches anxiety campaign

Health & Leisure
Thursday, 02 August 2012

Victoria-based organisation ‘beyondblue’ is conducting research ahead of a new campaign to raise awareness and understanding of anxiety disorders across Australia.
It is establishing an online community of people who have experienced an anxiety disorder themselves, or who live with a partner or family member who has experienced an anxiety disorder.

beyondblue chief executive Kate Carnell said “We want to gain an insight into people's experiences of anxiety, so our anxiety awarenesscampaign will reflect exactly what it is like to experience these conditions. That way, people who may have dismissed their anxious feelings, either as part of their personality or who have developed coping mechanisms like drinking, will recognise these symptoms in themselves and seek help. “These are real medical conditions that can be treated successfully, not character flaws.”

The online community will start discussions on 06 August and it will run for four weeks. During that period, the online moderator will post topics for discussion (around three to four a week), and participants will be notified by email updates. By logging onto the private invitation-only website, people will be able to share their thoughts on any of the topics in their own time. All participants will remain anonymous.

One million adults in Australia live with depression at any one time, but more than two million have an anxiety disorder. On average, one in four people – one in three women and one in five men – will experience an anxiety disorder at some time in their lives.

With depression it’s one in six people – one in five women and one in eight men.

People who want to participate in the online community should go to the home page of the website www.beyondblue.org.au <http://www.beyondblue.org.au/> and click on Share your thoughts and experiences on anxiety.

beyondblue launches anxiety campaign

Health & Leisure
Thursday, 02 August 2012

Victoria-based organisation ‘beyondblue’ is conducting research ahead of a new campaign to raise awareness and understanding of anxiety disorders across Australia.
It is establishing an online community of people who have experienced an anxiety disorder themselves, or who live with a partner or family member who has experienced an anxiety disorder.

beyondblue chief executive Kate Carnell said “We want to gain an insight into people's experiences of anxiety, so our anxiety awarenesscampaign will reflect exactly what it is like to experience these conditions. That way, people who may have dismissed their anxious feelings, either as part of their personality or who have developed coping mechanisms like drinking, will recognise these symptoms in themselves and seek help. “These are real medical conditions that can be treated successfully, not character flaws.”

The online community will start discussions on 06 August and it will run for four weeks. During that period, the online moderator will post topics for discussion (around three to four a week), and participants will be notified by email updates. By logging onto the private invitation-only website, people will be able to share their thoughts on any of the topics in their own time. All participants will remain anonymous.

One million adults in Australia live with depression at any one time, but more than two million have an anxiety disorder. On average, one in four people – one in three women and one in five men – will experience an anxiety disorder at some time in their lives.

With depression it’s one in six people – one in five women and one in eight men.

People who want to participate in the online community should go to the home page of the website www.beyondblue.org.au <http://www.beyondblue.org.au/> and click on Share your thoughts and experiences on anxiety.