Mental health issues affects young people on a huge scale. Three quarters of adults with mental health problems first experience difficulties in childhood or adolescence. It is critically important to tackle mental health problems early.
The University of Reading is home to the Charlie Waller Institute and the Anxiety and Depression in Young People (AnDY) Research Unit. Between them, they are transforming the lives of young people by designing effective therapies, providing treatments, and training front-line mental health practitioners.
A lot of the psychological therapies that have typically been offered to young people have been versions of therapies developed for younger children or adults. Research at the University of Reading has identified the particular needs and characteristics of young people with anxiety disorders and depression, and this is used to directly inform the development of more relevant treatments.
Read More StoriesThis crucial work to create therapies specifically for young people empowers them to build confidence, gain independence and live life to the fullest at a critical period in their lives.
Professor Shirley Reynolds, Co-Director of AnDY and Director of the Charlie Waller Institute