Associate Professor Maria Kangas and colleagues are looking for participants to be involved in a new program they are trialing to help children and adolescents cope with the physical symptoms related to stress and anxiety.

“We are looking for children aged seven to 17 years to come along and be involved in our new Cool Kids and Adolescent Health program, which we hope will give them the tools to cope with and manage the physical symptoms, including pain, as well as their stress and anxiety,” explains Maria.

The program is specifically tailored to children who experience an array of recurring health complaints such as abdominal pain, gastro-intestinal symptoms (including IBS), recurring headaches, chest pains, dizziness and nausea, which manifest due to anxiety and have occurred for at least three months or more (and have been confirmed by a GP or medical specialist as being medically benign).

“These children and adolescents are prone to having increased rates of school absenteeism, and this may also have an impact on their learning, peer relations and overall quality of life,” says Maria.

The program is individually based and involves 10 x one-hour weekly therapy sessions held either in person at the Centre for Emotional Health Clinic at Macquarie University or via Skype or telephone. Interested families will be invited to attend a screening assessment to determine eligibility. Participants need to be aged between seven to 17 years and have experienced recurring somatic health complaints for a minimum of three months (which a GP or medical specialist has confirmed are medically benign).

For more information or to get involved please contact Associate Professor Kangas and her team by emailing coolkidshealth@mq.edu.au, maria.kangas@mq.edu.au or by calling +61 (2) 9850 4082.

Ethics number for this study: 5201400363.