beyondblue seeks volunteers for online research into anxiety disorders

2 August, 2012
beyondblue seeks volunteers for online research into anxiety disorders

beyondblue is conducting research to develop a new advertising campaign to raise awareness and understanding of anxiety disorders across Australia.

beyondblue CEO Ms Kate Carnell AO said beyondblue has engaged a market research company to establish 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.

“We want to gain an insight into people's experiences of anxiety, so our anxiety awareness campaign 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,” Ms Carnell said.

The online community will start discussions on 6 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.

Ms Carnell said: “Unfortunately, awareness and understanding about anxiety disorders in the community is low when compared to people’s understanding and knowledge about depression. People are now more aware of depression and are more likely to seek help than they were 12 years ago when beyondblue was established. Next, we want to increase awareness of anxiety disorders in the same way as we’ve done with depression.”

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders in Australia - even more common than depression. One million adults in Australia live with depression at any one time, but over 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.

There are six different main types of anxiety disorders: Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Social Phobia or Specific Phobias, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Panic Disorder. While the symptoms for each disorder are different, there are general signs and symptoms common to all disorders.

Feeling worried or anxious most of the time

Finding it difficult to calm down

Feeling overwhelmed or frightened by sudden feelings of intense panic /anxiety

Experiencing recurring thoughts that cause anxiety , but may seem silly to other people

Avoiding people, places, events that cause anxiety

Experiencing ongoing difficulties (e.g. nightmares, flashbacks) after a traumatic event.

People wanting to participate in the online community should go to the home page of the website www.beyondblue.org.auandclick on Share your thoughts and experiences on anxiety. Prospective participants will be required to answer a short questionnaire and will be notified by email prior to the start of the online community on August 6.