Physical Activity Intervention for Youth With Anxiety and Depression -Confident, Active and Happy Youth

The three target goals of the intervention (confident, active and happy) link closely to the core symptoms of internalizing disorders. Thus, a core symptom of anxiety is a lack of confidence in one's ability to cope with a given fearful situation. The ensuing behavioral reaction is avoidance of the situation and/or enduring it with excessive discomfort. Similarly, a core symptom of a depressive disorder is lowered mood. Regarding both depression and anxiety, both disorders are associated with less physical activity, and low levels of physical activity conversely help maintain the disorders. As such, the aim is to alleviate symptoms and supplement ongoing treatment in CAMHS.