The Andrew Kukes Foundation for Social Anxiety Awards Grant to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America

The Andrew Kukes Foundation for Social Anxiety (AKFSA) has selected the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) as one of its 2015 grant recipients. AKFSA grants provide support to organizations focused on educational and outreach initiatives improving knowledge about and the treatment of social anxiety disorder.

Grant support from AKFSA will support professional education by funding sessions at the national 2015 Anxiety and Depression Conference, presented by ADAA, focused on defining, managing and offering support for social anxiety and related disorders and providing funds for two Travel Awards for new PhDs Carrie Potter of Temple University and Jen Dahne of University of Maryland, who are focused on social anxiety, to participate in the Conference.

Funds also will support community education with the pre-conference event Anxious Children in School: Becoming Part of the Solution. This informational workshop seeks to educate those who are interested in the mental health of children on recognizing anxiety, practical tips to reduce anxiety and stress in school and at home, strategies to approach and engage parents and the school community and resources to help families find effective treatment.

“The Foundation’s goal in its grant-making process is to make social anxiety a part of the mainstream discussion within both the professional and public communities, for which the ADAA and its conference is an important resource, leading to better treatment and support for sufferers and their families,” said Lori Blumenstein-Bott, MSW, Executive Director of AKFSA.

ADAA is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention, treatment and cure of anxiety, OCD, PTSD, depression and related disorders and to improving the lives of all people who suffer from them. The Anxiety and Depression Conference takes place in April 2015 in Miami, Fla. The conference provides access to experts in clinical care and research, opportunities to network with professionals from around the globe and experiences to enrich professional research and practice to better support those who are suffering from anxiety and depression disorders, including social anxiety.

Social Anxiety is characterized by extreme anxiety about being judged by others or behaving in a way that might cause embarrassment, shame, humiliation or ridicule. Social situations provoke anxiety or distress resulting in crippling fear that can interfere significantly with daily activities and functioning. The person recognizes that the fear is excessive or unreasonable. Children and teens may be diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder.

People with Social Anxiety Disorder often report feeling alone, misunderstood and misdiagnosed, causing their personal relationships to suffer. Individuals often try to isolate themselves from their friends and family. They’re uncomfortable talking about their disorder, afraid others will not take them seriously. An estimated 15 million American adults experience these symptoms.

The Andrew Kukes Foundation for Social Anxiety’s mission is to educate social anxiety sufferers, mental health professionals, physicians, teachers, coaches, clergy, friends, family and the general public about the diagnosis and treatment of social anxiety.

For more information about ADAA and the 2015 Anxiety and Depression Conference, visit www.adaa.org.