Annotated Bibliography

Annotated Bibliography for Anxiety Disorders

Web Resources

Washington Educational Television Association. (2010) . LD Online. Retrieved from

http://www.ldonline.org/index.php

While Learning Disabilities Online is mainly devoted to learning disabilities like ADHD, Autism, and Dyslexia rather than emotional disorders like Anxiety or Depression, it does provide some useful resources for teachers seeking to make their classrooms more inclusive for all types of learners. The website itself is divided into three separate sections “For Educators”, “For Parents” and “For Kids”: The “For Educators” section contains a huge database of current articles arranged according to categories such as “Differentiating Instruction”, “Inclusion”, “Accommodations and Modifications”, and “Teaching Self-esteem and Stress Management”. In particular, the full text article “Understanding Children's Hearts and Minds: Emotional Functioning and Learning Disabilities” (Gorman, 1999) helps teachers to understand anxiety as both a separate emotional disorder, and as a possible symptom of other LDs. The “For Kids” section of this website features art work, fiction, and autobiographies by exceptional kids, as well as a list of children’s books addressing learning disabilities and emotional and mental health.

Children’s Mental Health Ontario. (2009). Children’s Mental Health Ontario. Retrieved from

http://www.kidsmentalhealth.ca

The Children’s Mental Health Ontario (CMHO ) website provides a wealth of information on children’s mental health issues including Anxiety, Autism, Depression, Eating Disorders, Impulse Control Disorders, Schizophrenia and Tourette Syndrome. The site is organized in three separate sections devoted to “Parents and Families” , “Children and Youth” and “Professionals,” the last of which contains a list of resources specifically complied with teachers in mind. This collection of “Resources for Teachers” includes printable teacher guides on a variety of conditions including Anxiety, each offering teacher tips on early identification and intervention, as well as practical suggestions on how to accommodate students with mental health issues in your classroom. This section also contains lesson plans (grades 2-6) addressing mental health issues and meeting Ontario Curriculum Outcomes. The first two chapters of Growing Up Resilient: Ways to Build Resilience in Children and Youth by Barankin, T. & Khanlou, N. are also available here. This book is an excellent resource for educators and school volunteers, and has been awarded Curriculum Services Canada’s Seal of Quality.

The F.O.R.C.E Society for Kid’s Mental Health. (2010). The F.O.R.C.E: Families Organized for

Recognition &Care Equality. Retrieved from http://www.bckidsmentalhealth.org/education/

This website strives to connect families of children with mental health issues to information on available support, educational opportunities, and advocacy services. The “Education” section of the website provides some potentially useful resources for teachers, including printable sheets in various languages outlining what the parents of children with mental health issues can expect from family physicians, Mental Health Services and the school staff in devising treatment approaches. This section also provides teachers with a PDF version of Reaching for the Top: A Report by the Advisor for Healthy Children and Youth (2007). Chapter 8 in this publication addresses “Children and Youth Mental Health Issues” in Canada, including the impact of anxiety disorders on learning and participation in school.

The Hinks-Dellcrest Center for Mental Health Information. (2008). The ABCs of Mental Health.

Retrieved from http://www.brocku.ca/teacherresource/ABC/index.php

The ABC’s of Mental Health: A Teacher Resource. This site was developed by the

The Hincks-Dellcrest Centre for Mental Health Information, in response to frequent teacher requests for children’s mental health information specifically adapted to use in elementary school settings. This excellent teacher resource provides information on common behavioural and mental health problems that concern elementary teachers, practical prevention and early intervention strategies that promote learning in the classroom, and guidelines for responding to children with more serious mental health problems, as well as to their parents and families. The information on this site is organized with teachers in mind, providing them with the option to search specific worrisome behaviours they are observing in their classrooms, or to engage in professional development more generally by perusing teacher oriented chapters on a range of mental health issues affecting children. One of the most useful features of this website is that it helps teachers take into account a child’s age, developmental stage, gender, and cultural or religion when they are trying to assess a worrying behaviour by using a “Green Light, Yellow Light, Red Light” coding system: Behaviours that might be normal in one situation or stage, could indicate a moderate or serious mental health problem in another situation or stage, and might require teacher or specialist intervention.

Anxiety Disorder Association of British Columbia. (2010). AnxietyBC: Resources. Results. Relief.

Retrieved at http://www.anxietybc.com/index.php

The AnxietyBC website provides a rich resource of self-help information for individuals struggling with anxiety, but it also provides resources for parents and caregivers of anxious children, many of which are equally applicable to teachers. The “Parenting” section of the website a gives concise description of common anxiety disorders (Specific Phobia Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder), and lists the types of behaviours or complaints that parents (or teachers) might be observing. Additionally, this section contains a variety of printable Anxiety reductions

“ Toolkits” , which provide easy to follow instructions on how to create coping cards, how model positive self- talk for children, how help anxious children make friends, how to teach calm breathing and progressive muscle relaxation techniques.

Anxiety Disorders Association of Canada. (2007). Anxiety Disorders Association of Canada.

Retrieved from http://www.anxietycanada.ca

The Anxiety Disorders Association of Canada website provides a brief description on each common type of anxiety disorder. A useful feature of this website is that each description is accompanied by a lengthy personal account of someone whose life has been impacted by an anxiety disorder. Often times these accounts describe not only the devastating effects of a disorder not treated till adulthood, but the huge improvements made possible by diagnosis and effective treatment. Although the site focuses mostly on adults with anxiety, there is a specific section on “Childhood Anxiety” which provides some useful descriptions the types of behaviours that might indicate something is wrong. This section also contains the story of a grade three girl, describing in her own words her experience with specific phobias, classroom accommodations, and successful anxiety reduction sessions with her school councillor.

Canadian Psychiatric Research Foundation. (2005). Anxiety Disorders. When Something’s Wrong:

Ideas for Teachers. Retrieved from http://cprf.ca/publication/pdf/teacher_02_eng.pdf

This chapter on “Anxiety Disorders” comprises one section When Something’s Wrong: Ideas for Teachers, an eight part teachers’ reference guide published by the Canadian Psychiatric Research Foundation (CPRF). The guide as a whole is designed to offer useful classroom strategies for teachers of students affected by Anxiety Disorders, Autism, Depression, Eating Disorders, Impulse Control Disorders, Schizophrenia or Tourette Syndrome. The specific chapter on “Anxiety Disorders” is broken down into discrete sections dealing with Separation Anxiety, General Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety, Panic Disorder and OCD, offering teachers a list behavioural characteristics and practical strategies for each one. The end of each chapter contains a list of potentially useful resources. Although not included in the CPRF guide for Teachers, information on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can be found in The Canadian Psychiatric Research Foundation’s publication When Something’s Wrong: Ideas for Families.

Green, Gayle. (2000). About Iris the Dragon. Retrieved from http://www.iristhedragon.com

The books in the Iris the Dragon Series by Gayle Green are intended as an introduction to the topic of mental health for elementary aged children, and can easily be incorporated into the elementary curriculum. This site contains an ebook version of Catch A Falling Star, a fairy-tale-like story which describes the variety of emotional and behavioural symptoms experienced by one little boy struggling with a possible mental illness, while at the same time teaching children the importance of sharing thoughts and worries with members of their families, schools and communities. The downloadable book is approved by the Department of Education for the Province of NS as an acceptable resource material and lesson plans are also available. Although there is no ebook version yet available, teachers may be interested to read about Hole in One, an Iris the Dragon story dealing with separation anxiety and school performance anxiety.

Anxiety Disorders Association of America. (2010). Anxiety Disorders Association of America.

Retrieved from http://www.adaa.org/GettingHelp/FocusOn/Children&Adolescents.asp

Besides containing general information on anxiety disorders and their treatment and management, The Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) website contains a section addressing the ways anxiety disorders affect children specifically. In the section entitled “Children”, teachers will find information on their mandated role in planning classroom accommodations in concert with parents and mental health professionals, as well as information on school refusal and test anxiety in children.

Canadian Mental Health Association. (2002) Anxiety Disorders in Children and Youth. Visions:

BC’s Metal Health Journal. Retrieved from http://www.cmha.bc.ca/files/14.pdf

Visions: BC’s Mental Health Journal is a quarterly publication produced by the Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division. This particular issue (No.14, Spring 2002) is focused on Anxiety Disorders in children and youth, and contains a variety of articles that could be useful for teachers. For example there are articles on identifying anxiety disorders in children and young people (especially panic, post-traumatic stress, and obsessive-compulsive disorders) as well as articles on strategies for early intervention and prevention that could be applied to the classroom. In particular, Dr. Lynn Miller’s (PhD, Rpsych) article “Disabling Disorders Too Often Overlooked” will be a useful read for classroom educators because it provides a thoughtful look at why anxiety disorders are often over looked in the classroom, and examines how anxiety can affect and impair classroom learning. This issue also includes an interview with Gayle Grass Author of the Iris the Dragon Series by Gayle Grass, an excellent children’s book series in line with Nova Scotia’s mental health curriculum.

National Alliance on Mental Health. (2010). National Alliance on Mental Health. Retrieved from

http://www.nami.org

The National Alliance for Mental Illness is a grassroots organization devoted to the sharing Information about mental health with people with mental illness, their families, their friends, and the general public, and their website contains a number of sections focused on Anxiety Disorders. Of particular interest to teachers seeking information on Anxiety Disorders in children is a section on “Anxiety Disorders in Youth and Adolescents” which identifies the behaviors associated with common types of anxiety disorders, and provides a brief overview of current research on possible causes and treatments. Also of interest to teachers is a useful handbook entitled IEP and Inclusion Tips for Parents and Teachers. Although this guidebook is designed for an American context, the chapters on “Preparing for IEP Meetings,” “Tracking Progress,” “Forming Effective Partnerships Between Families and Schools,” and “Handling Disagreements” all provide useful tips for Canadian teachers participating in IPP planning teams.

Videos

Anxious Moments: A Six Part Series. Anxiety Canada.

http://www.anxietycanada.ca/english/ pdf/videos/Anxiety-ang-2.pdf

In this six-part educational video series Anxious Moments, six sufferers of anxiety disorders tell their own stories, describing their experiences with anxiety, its impact on their lives, and their struggles with treatment. Their first-hand accounts are interspersed with commentary by mental health professionals. Each episode in the series is 19 min in length and covers a specific type of anxiety, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder, OCD, Panic Disorder, Specific Phobias, Post-Traumatic Stress, and Social Anxiety Disorder

Fighting Their Fears: Child and Youth Anxiety by Melanie Wood, National Film Board of Canada (2004) NFB ID#113C9104249

Part 1 in a 3-part National Film Board of Canada series on child and youth mental health, this film combines interviews with experts, families, and the young people themselves to explore the symptoms of and treatments for anxiety disorders. The film focuses on real stories and highlights the breakthroughs as well as the challenges. The two other titles in the series are Beyond the Blues: Child and Youth Depression and A Map of the Mind Fields: Managing Adolescent Psychosis.

Books

Growing Up Resilient: Ways to Build Resilience in Children and Youth

A book by Barankin, T. & Khanlou, N. Toronto, Ontario: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. This book is touted as a “must read” for adults (including parents, teachers and front-line workers) who want to increase resilience in the children and youth in their lives. This resource has been awarded Curriculum Services Canada’s Seal of Quality, recommending it as a reference for educators and others who work or volunteer in schools. You can download the first two chapters of Growing Up Resilient at the Children’s Mental Health Ontario Website [http://www.kidsmentalhealth.ca] under the “Teacher Resources” section.

When My Worries Get Too Big; A Relaxation Book for Children Who Live with Anxiety.

By Kari Buron .This is a self-help book for anxious children that teaches deep-breathing, positive thinking, and other self-relaxation and coping techniques applicable to classroom settings. This book is available through the Halifax Regional Library,

# 618.928522 B967w.

Diawol, Michelle and Steven Feldgaier. (2007). Anxiety Disorders Association of Manitoba. Retrieved November 13th, 2010 from http://www.adam.mb.ca/articles.asp

This website is devoted to ADAM, the Anxiety Disorders Association of Manitoba, a registered self-help charity whose goal is to assist people with anxiety disorders. This website contains a description of the various symptoms pertaining to each type of anxiety disorder, and the support and treatments available. It has a section on parental strategies to help children with anxiety disorders, and list of children’s books, which can be effective in initiating healing conservation between parents and their children.

Macnaughton, Eric. (Spring 2002). Anxiety Disorders in Children and Youth. BC’s Mental

Health Journal, Visions. No. 14. Retrieved November 13th, 2010 from

http://www.cmha.bc.ca/files/14.pdf

This issue of Visions contains a number of informative articles and case studies pertaining to anxiety disorders, giving a comprehensive review of various types, such as panic, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, and examining. Several treatment alternatives are discussed that highlight the importance of early intervention and prevention. This issue is designed to help people with anxiety disorders and their families by directing them toward the resources are that are available.

Grass, Gayle. (2001). Catch a Falling Star. Lombardy, Ontario: Iris the Dragon Inc, 45 pp.

Retrieved November 13th, 2010 from http://www.iristhedragon.com/storePDFs/Catch_72dpi.pdf

Catch a Falling Star is the first book in Gayle Grass’ Iris the Dragon children’s series, which deals with mental illness in children. This book is designed to reveal the symptoms that could indicate the beginning of a mental illness in a child, and what should be done when the symptoms are noticed. It is written about a boy named Fish, who confides in his star guardian, Iris the Dragon, when he begins to feel excessively anxious. Iris teaches Fish how to cope with his anxiety and relax.

Healthy Minds Cr8 Healthy Lives. (September, 2010). Headroom Retrieved November 13^th,

2010 from http://www.headroom.net.au/Content.aspx?p=125

This website advocates the use of relaxation techniques in the classroom to help alleviate anxiety in children. It suggests the use of five minute introductory and closing periods for each learning period to listen to some relaxing music, practice deep breathing, and/or take part in some guided imagery to a calming, positive place in their imaginations. Movement to music, stretching, muscle tensing and relaxing, simple yoga, nature walks and drawing to music are also suggested relaxation-inducing activities.

Iris the Dragon. (n.d.). Retrieved November 13^th, 2010 from http://www.iristhedragon.com/iris_2010/index.php

The Iris the Dragon website provides a guide for reading the books in Gayle Grass’ Iris the Dragon series. These books and the corresponding resources, such as lesson plans and worksheets, which are available through this website, serve as a framework to facilitate communication about mental health between parents, teachers and children. The story form makes it easier for children with mental illness to discuss their feelings and challenges.

Educational Adjustments. (2010). LearningPlace. Retrieved November 13^th, 2010 from

http://www.learningplace.com.au/deliver/content.asp?pid=34810

Education Queensland designed this website around the philosophy of inclusion, in order to be able to better support the mental health of students, thereby facilitating their educational experience and personal development. The section entitled “Educational Adjustments” contains basic information about anxiety disorders in all their manifestations. It discusses how these disorders would manifest in an educational setting, as well as a variety of school-based adaptations that could be implemented by teachers in order to help students deal with their anxiety.

McLoone, Jordana; Hudson, Jennifer L.; Rapee, Ronald M. (2006, May 1). Treating anxiety

disorders in a school setting. The Free Library. Retrieved November 13^th, 2010 from http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Treating anxiety disorders in a school setting.-a0149622756

This article sets its foundation by describing prevalent anxiety disorders and how they are manifested in schools. It follows this with a discussion of some of the more common assessment tools of anxiety in children, weighing the strengths and weaknesses of each. Three school-based treatment programs are reviewed: Cool Kids and Friends, which are applicable to all anxiety disorders, and Skills for Social and Academic Success (SASSSee SAS. ), which is designed for children with social phobia.

Other Mental Disorders in Children and Adolescents. (1999). Chapter 3: Children and Mental Health. Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General. Retrieved November 13^th, 2010 http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/chapter3/sec6.html

This website contains medical data collected by the Surgeon General pertaining to mental health in the United States. Chapter three is devoted to information and statistics on children’s mental health in the United States. Information about anxiety disorders is included in section six. This section discusses data collected on generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety, social phobia and obsessive compulsive disorders, along with their available treatment options

A Report on Mental Illnesses in Canada: Chapter 4 Anxiety Disorders. (2002). Public

Health Agency of Canada. Retrieved November 13^th, 2010 from http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/miic-mmac/chap_4-eng.php

This is Canada’s official medical information website. Chapter four contains information and statistics pertaining to anxiety disorders in Canada. It discusses symptoms, the affect of these symptoms, economic impact, the stigma of having an anxiety disorder, possible causes, treatment, hospitalization data and further surveillance needs. It also lists some references that are valuable resources in themselves.

Shrink-Rap Press. Retrieved November 13^th, 2010 from

http://www.shrinkrap.com.au/wobbbliespage.html

This website is built around the children’s books published by Shrink-Rap Press, a publishing company created by Chris Wever and Neil Phillips, two Australian psychiatrists. Each book is written and illustrated by one or both of these psychiatrists, and examines a different emotional or psychiatric disorder in a child appropriate manner. Wever and Phillips created the publishing company, because they believed that there was a need for books with cartoon illustrations, which create a comforting environment in which children are able to more easily confront the difficult emotions involved with mental illnesses.