With COVID-19 having forced people around the world into self-isolation, anxiety for many people is at an all-time high.
In this Town Hall you will get the facts on anxiety and learn about proven coping strategies from an international panel of anxiety experts.
If you are experiencing any of the following:
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- Anxiety about the uncertain future;
- Anxiety about germs, cleanliness, and/or getting sick;
- Anxiety about feeling isolated;
- An urge to hoarding or stockpile household items; or
- You have a young family or are a senior;
This Town Hall will help you.
Our featured guests include:
Samra Zafar (Host)
An award-winning international speaker, bestselling author, consultant, educator, and social entrepreneur who advocates for equity, inclusion, and human rights with lived experience of anxiety.
Linda Aylesworth (Moderator)
Linda Aylesworth has been with Global BC since 1981, and her previous years studying biology lead Linda to specialize in health, science and environmental journalism.
Her reports have earned her an Edward R. Murrow Award for Feature Reporting. A National Radio-Television News Directors Association (RTNDA) Dave Rogers Award, two Regional Radio-Television News Directors Association (RTNDA) Dave Rogers Awards and a Jack Webster Award for best science reporting.
Linda is proudest of her profession when her stories make a difference in people’s lives.
Maureen Whittal (Panelist)
In 1999, Dr. Maureen Whittal co-founded Anxiety Canada and is now co-chair of its Scientific Advisory Committee. Dr. Whittal is a psychologist at the Vancouver CBT Centreand holds appointments in the UBC departments of Psychology and Psychiatry. She is CBT certified by the Academy of Cognitive Therapy (ACT) and Canadian Association of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CACBT).
Dr. Whittal is an acknowledged expert in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and is internationally known for her work in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Maureen has also lectured and provided workshops to professionals across North America, the United Kingdom, Australia and Europe. Closer to home, Dr. Whittal has trained numerous psychologists and psychiatrists in the assessment and treatment of anxiety disorders from a cognitive-behavioral perspective.
Roz Shafran (Panelist)
Professor Shafran is Chair in Translational Psychology at University College London’s Institute of Child Health. She founded the Charlie Waller Institute of Evidenced Based Psychological Treatment in 2007 at the University of Reading and was its director until 2012.
She is an accredited therapist with the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy and has received numerous awards including: the Positive Practice ‘Making a Difference’ Award; the British Psychological Society Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology in Practice; and the Marsh Award for Mental Health for research that has made a difference to clinical practice.
Catherine Ayers (Panelist)
Dr. Ayers is a faculty member in UC San Diego programs in Clinical Psychology. She investigates treatment outcomes for anxiety disorders, particularly geriatric hoarding. Her research on psychotherapy for hoarding has been funded by the International OCD Foundation. She recently received a Career Development Award from the United States’ Department of Veterans Affairs entitled “Treatment of Late Life Hoarding” (PI). She also runs the UCSD anxiety disorders program. Catherine has graciously agreed to participate in the AC moderated panel on Thursday the 26th at 1pm. Great news for us! as she will be very capable of handling questions on managing/coping for older adults, many of whom much know that they are in a higher risk category with COVID.
About Anxiety Canada:
Anxiety Canada™ is a leader in developing free online, self-help, and evidence-based resources on anxiety. We are the developers of the award-winning free MindShift™ CBT app for iOS and Android devices, which helps Canadians manage anxiety using scientifically proven strategies.