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An evidence-based programme for child anxiety, developed by University of Oxford researchers with support from the NIHR ARC OxTV (Applied Research Collaboration Oxford and Thames Valley), is now being adapted for families in Chile.
Professor Cathy Creswell, from Oxford’s Department of Experimental Psychology and lead for the NIHR ARC OxTV’s 'mental health across the life course' theme, recently visited Chile to establish the project. The work has already been featured in the country's leading newspaper, El Mercurio.
The programme, Online Support and Intervention (OSI), is a parent-led, therapist-supported digital intervention for children aged 5-12 who experience problems with anxiety. It provides parents and carers with the tools and strategies to help their children learn to face their fears, rather than avoid situations that cause anxiety. The programme also includes an optional game app to help motivate children.
A proven success in the UK
The move into South America follows the programme's remarkable success in the UK.
OSI was developed through a collaboration between the departments of Experimental Psychology and Psychiatry at Oxford, with support from the NIHR ARC OxTV and the NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre.
In February 2023, it was recommended for use in the NHS by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). By mid-2024, the programme was rolling out across the country, with over 20 areas committed to using it.
The intervention has already supported over 1,000 families in the UK and has been shown to reduce clinician time by 40% without compromising positive outcomes for families.
Adapting the programme for a new context
The Chilean adaptation project, supported by the Inter-American Development Bank, will focus on ensuring the intervention fits the local cultural context and the needs of Chilean families.
Speaking to El Mercurio, Professor Creswell explained the core principle of the programme is to empower parents. "We need parents to do things that may not come naturally," she said, "so that the child has the opportunity to learn for themselves about the world and their ability to face it."
She added that it’s not about forcing children, "but rather helping them learn they are capable of managing their fears."
From local research to global impact
The programme's journey from a research project to international implementation is a powerful example of how evidence-based healthcare can be translated into real-world benefits for the public.
With one in five children in England experiencing a likely mental health problem, and childhood anxiety rising globally, scalable and effective interventions like OSI are critical.
The programme has been licensed via Oxford University Innovation to the digital health company Koa Health, which is supporting its implementation in the NHS and expansion into the US market. The Chilean project marks a new and important milestone in making this Oxford-developed support available to families around the world.
You can also see more coverage on El Mercurio's Instagram account here.