Teaching kids and teens to manage their anxiety

The Cool Kids Anxiety Program, including ‘Cool Kids’ and ‘Chilled Out’ online, has touched the lives of thousands of children worldwide.

A child and an adult are accessing the Cool Kids program on a laptop. The child is pointing at the screen, which shows several cartoon people.

Focusing on young people’s mental health

The Cool Kids suite of programs, developed by researchers at Macquarie, has improved the mental health of thousands of children in Australia and across the world.

These programs arose from our researchers’ vision to build an emotionally healthy community through science and practice.

Cool Kids has translated scientific evidence into applied materials to change the way clinicians treat youth with anxiety disorders. It has also pioneered treatment services for youth in remote areas and is now accessed across the world.

The Cool Kids suite operates at the interface of research and practice, directly translating research into benefits for children, parents, clinicians, schools and teachers.

Children that go through the programs show positive mental health outcomes and improved quality of life with reduced rates of anxiety and depression that are sustained.