School-based screening for childhood anxiety problems and intervention delivery: a codesign approach

Williamson, V. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3110-9856, Larkin, M., Reardon, T., Pearcey, S., Button, R., Green, I., Hill, C., Stallard, P., Spence, S. H., Breen, M., Mcdonald, I., Ukoumunne, O. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0551-9157, Ford, T., Violato, M., Sniehotta, F., Stainer, J., Gray, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0239-7278, Brown, P., Sancho, M., Morgan, F., Jasper, B. and Creswell, C. (2022) School-based screening for childhood anxiety problems and intervention delivery: a codesign approach. BMJ Open, 12 (6). e058089. ISSN 2044-6055 doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058089

Abstract/Summary

Objectives: A very small proportion of children with anxiety problems receive evidence-based treatment. Barriers to access include difficulties with problem identification, concerns about stigma and a lack of clarity about how to access specialist services and their limited availability. A school-based programme that integrates screening to identify those children who are most likely to be experiencing anxiety problems with the offer of intervention has the potential to overcome many of these barriers. This article is a process-based account of how we used codesign to develop a primary school-based screening and intervention programme for child anxiety problems. Design: Codesign. Setting: UK primary schools. Participants: Data were collected from year 4 children (aged 8–9 years), parents, school staff and mental health practitioners. Results: We report how the developed programme was experienced and perceived by a range of users, including parents, children, school staff and mental health practitioners, as well as how the programme was adapted following user feedback. Conclusions: We reflect on the mitigation techniques we employed, the lessons learnt from the codesign process and give recommendations that may inform the development and implementation of future school-based screening and intervention programmes.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/105848
Identification Number/DOI	10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058089
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Anxiety and Depression in Young People (AnDY)
Uncontrolled Keywords	Mental health, 1506, 1712, education & training (see Medical Education & Training), mental health, paediatrics
Publisher	BMJ Publishing Group
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