About Us
Learn more about the history, the research, and the team behind THIS WAY UP
Who is behind THIS WAY UP?
THIS WAY UP was jointly designed and developed by Professor Gavin Andrews and his team of psychiatrists and clinical psychologists at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney. As a non-profit initiative, THIS WAY UP is sponsored by the Australian Government and the Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression (CRUfAD) at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney.
The Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression was a World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre, and is part of the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Faculty of Medicine, School of Psychiatry. As a research unit, CRUfAD combines clinical and research expertise in the recognition and treatment of anxiety and depression disorders.
Our Structure
THIS WAY UP is part of the Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression (CRUfAD). CRUfAD is a joint facility of St Vincent’s Hospital and the University of New South Wales established to reduce the impact of anxiety and depressive disorders on individuals.
The team of clinicians, researchers, and web technicians are led by eminent psychiatrist, Dr Mike Millard.
St Vincent's Hospital
A major public hospital and a principal referral hospital, St Vincent’s specialises in mental health and drug and alcohol services. The Hospital has a long-standing reputation for treating complex patients with the highest acuity, attracting referrals on a state wide and national basis.
University of NSW
The University of New South Wales has strong academic links with St Vincent’s Hospital through the Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression (CRUfAD). As a teaching hospital of the UNSW, St Vincent’s provides high quality medical education for undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as visiting elective students from national and international medical schools.
Department of Health
The Department of Health is a sponsor of THIS WAY UP.
In this role, the Department provides grants under Teleweb (the Telephone Counselling, Self Help and Web-based Support Programmes measure).
CRUfAD
Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression (CRUfAD) was a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre in Mental Health and Substance Use. Priorities include research linked to service provision, health outcomes to consumers, and training programs for mental health professionals. Our research drives our service areas to prevent, train, research, and treat individuals.
Virtual Clinic
Virtual Clinic is where we conduct our clinical trials for internet based education, and treatment programs for anxiety and depression. All successful findings are then implemented in our online and face-to-face treatment programs – This Way Up and Anxiety Disorders Clinic.
Anxiety Disorders Clinic
The Anxiety Disorders Clinic is a specialist clinic that provides face-to-face assessment and treatment for adults with anxiety and depressive disorders. The clinic is a part of St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
The Anxiety Disorders Clinic provides assessment and treatment for Social Phobia, Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Specific Phobia and Depression. Treatment programs are conducted over the internet, or on individual face-to-face bases.
Our History
THIS WAY UP was founded in 1998 as ‘CLIMATE’ (Clinicians’ Mate) by Professor Gavin Andrews. Our online Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) programs were developed by a group of academic and clinical staff at the Clinical Research Unit of Anxiety and Depression (CRUfAD) at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney and University of New South Wales (UNSW) Faculty of Medicine.
1998
CLIMATE
Our original set of programs included treatment programs for Panic, Depression, Social Phobia and Generalised Anxiety Disorder; educational programs for Alcohol Abuse, Arthritis, Asthma, Cancer, Diabetes, Heart Failure and Incontinence; and programs for dementia carers and for adolescents with emotional and substance use difficulties.
The design brief was for programs that were interesting to patients, to improve self-management (and hopefully be a better substitute for information sheets).
2009
CRUFAD CLINIC
In 2009, Climate was officially launched to all clinicians in Australia and re-named ‘CRUfADclinic’, recognising our origins as a virtual clinic from a research unit (CRUfAD). Over the years, CRUfADclinic made several changes.
We focused on what we do best, in lessening anxiety and depression, and removed our educational and programs for carers.
We conducted many randomized control trials to identify the most effective program, and developed new programs under our new name.
2012
THIS WAY UP
In 2012, we changed our name to THIS WAY UP. Our new name encapsulates the aim of our programs, the effectiveness of our programs, and our optimism.
Today, THIS WAY UP continues to provide innovative, fun, and effective programs on anxiety and depressive disorders.
THIS WAY UP is frequently cited in the media, and has helped thousands of individuals through this website. We hope you, a family member, or a friend can be the next one to benefit from our programs. We’re here to show you the way up.
We acknowledge social diversity and the multiple identity intersections for people of faith, people with disabilities, people of colour, diverse cultural identities, Aboriginal and Torres strait islanders, people of all gender expressions and sexual orientations. We are committed to improving the representation of all communities and identities in our programs, to make our content as safe, accessible, and inclusive as possible. While the characters in our programs currently represent certain communities and demographics, we hope that the skills taught in our programs are relevant and helpful to all people.
We are interested in hearing what is important to you, so please get in touch if you have any feedback to share.
