Ageing Wisely Online is a psychological treatment program that uses cognitive behavioural therapy (also called CBT). This program is specifically designed for older adults (aged 65 years and older) who may experience worry, anxiety or low mood. This program teaches people how to manage these feelings by learning to change the way they think, and the behaviours that maintain depression and anxiety.

The Ageing Wisely face-to-face program was developed by our team at Macquarie University, and has more than 10 years of research showing its effectiveness for reducing anxiety and depression in older adults. Our team has adapted the original face-to-face program into Ageing Wisely Online in order to allow older adults to be able to access evidence-based treatment from home.

The program contains 10 modules that are designed to teach you skills to manage your worry, anxiety or low mood. Modules include instructional videos, interactive activities and examples about how other older people have used these skills to improve their wellbeing. Each module takes around 30-60minutes to complete. The program is designed to be supported by regular brief phone calls with a trained therapist to help you to apply the skills to your own life circumstances.

This program is currently available at no cost as part of a research trial co-sponsored by the National Health and Medical Research Council and Beyond Blue. For more information about accessing this program, please contact us on (02) 9850 8715 or STOP@mq.edu.au, or visit us here.