Clinical Practice Guidelines for Anxiety in Children and Young People

Learning Series Description

This four-part learning series introduces a comprehensive, evidence-based clinical practice guideline for anxiety in children and young people. The sessions cover the rationale and methodology behind the guideline’s development, key clinical recommendations across the care pathway, and practical tools to support implementation. The series also explores how to effectively engage families using co-designed, accessible resources for parents and carers. It is designed to support professionals working in mental health, education, and related fields.

Description

In this talk, Sydney Stevens presents the development of a parent and carer guide designed to accompany the clinical practice guidelines for anxiety in children and young people. While the main guideline is a comprehensive 86-page document tailored for clinicians, this adapted resource provides accessible, evidence-based psychoeducation for families. Stevens outlines how the guide supports families throughout the stages of identification, care planning, treatment, and monitoring, and highlights the essential role of caregivers as part of the child’s support network. She emphasizes the importance of co-design with lived experience advisors to ensure the guide is trustworthy, usable, and reliable from the perspective of both parents and young people. The resource fills a critical gap in existing materials by addressing more severe presentations of anxiety and by equipping families with the knowledge needed to navigate professional care systems.

Learning Objectives

A. To understand the rationale and process behind developing a psychoeducational guide for families based on clinical guidelines for anxiety.

B. To recognize the role of families and support networks in the care of children and young people with anxiety.

C. To identify the value of co-design with lived experience advisors in creating accessible and trustworthy resources.

Related Content Links

A Guide to Childhood anxiety: Evidence-based approaches
Advanced Perspectives on Anxiety: Insights for Specialist Mental Health Clinicians
Anxiety Essentials: A Guide for Generalist and Early Career Clinicians