An epidemic of anxiety and depression has grown as the connections we have with each other and the community weaken.

As the demands of modern life build, anxiety and other forms of mental illness creep into more and more lives.

Clinical psychologist and researcher Lyn Worsley, director of The Resilience Centre in Epping, has done extensive research in the area. She is the author of books The Resilience Doughnut – The Secret Of Strong Kids and The Resilience Doughnut – The Secret Of Strong Adults.

Resilience plays a core role in the treatment of anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses, Worsley says. In developed economies, anxiety and depression have grown as individuals have become more isolated.

“What’s happened over the past 50 years or so is that we’re less connected in society and with our families and community,” she says. “As a result, we’re more vulnerable to mental illnesses such as anxiety.”

Everyone is anxious from time to time, but for some the feeling is frequent and all-consuming. It can result in panic attacks so severe victims mistake them for a heart attack.Worsley has developed a model, the Resilience Doughnut, to treat anxiety and depression. She says people can be taught to recognise their triggers, and to build and reconnect with support networks that can help them cope.

The inner circle of Worsley’s doughnut model represents a person’s three key beliefs about him or herself: awareness of their support circle (who I have); how they view themselves (who I am); and the degree of confidence they have in their abilities (what I can do). People who have strong positive beliefs in each of these areas are more likely to be resilient.