ANXIETY IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
By: Vanessa Fernandes
What Is the Problem?
Everyone has points in their life when they may feel sad, nervous, or unwell. These feelings, however, become concerning when they are persistent, intense, disruptive to normal life, or not typical for the child’s or adolescent’s age (Children and youth mental health: Signs and symptoms). Everyone’s mental health has been impacted by the pandemic and the recent world events that have been taking place. Young people, however, have been one of the most impacted demographics in terms of mental health and anxiety (Simon, 2022). If neglected, feelings of anxiety in young people can have negative consequences in the present and in the future.
Causes
There are many variables that can lead to children and adolescents experiencing anxiety. Some common factors include genetics and past experiences (Anxiety disorders: Facts about the most common types 2021). Symptoms of anxiety, such as panic attacks, phobias, and social anxiety, may run in a person's family, which may lead to them experiencing those same or similar feelings. A child or adolescent may develop anxiety after having experienced an event that would have triggered those feelings, such as a stressful, scary or embarrassing event.
The pandemic has also disrupted the lives of children and adolescents and, as a result, caused many of them to develop feelings of anxiety. For public health reasons, schools have had to close and reopen on multiple occasions. This has meant that children and adolescents have been managing inconsistent school schedules and attendance due to online learning and lockdowns. Not only has this had an effect on their academics, but it has also affected their mental health. Viner (2022) analyzed 36 studies from eleven countries involving thousands of minors and parents to see the impact school closures were having on children and adolescents. The 36 studies included longitudinal, cross-sectional, and modelling studies. The studies were found in various forms, including published, online reports, and preprint studies. His findings showed that school closures have resulted in “adverse mental health symptoms (such as distress and anxiety) and health behaviours (such as higher screen time and lower physical activity) among children and adolescents” (Viner, 2022). Between 18 and 60 percent of young people “scored above risk thresholds for distress, particularly anxiety and depressive symptoms” (Viner, 2022).
Returning to school after online learning has caused a lot of anxiety for children and adolescents. This could be because they are separating from their parents or guardians after spending a lot of time with them while learning from home, which can cause separation anxiety, or they are worried about leaving home and getting sick (Miller, 2021).
There are also the added procedures, such as distancing and mask-wearing, that are new and can be overwhelming, especially for younger children.
While this is not an exhaustive list of all factors that lead to children and adolescents experiencing anxiety, it provides an overview of some of the reasons, especially in the last few years of pandemic living.
Mind Map
Infographic
Solutions
Just like our physical health, mental health is important for everyone. Mental health conversations need to begin at a young age so that the topic does not become taboo by the time they are older. If young people are raised in an environment where people are more comfortable opening up and talking about mental health and anxiety, then they will be more likely to feel comfortable talking about it, too. It will also make them more comfortable reaching out and asking for help when they need it. Even though spreading awareness does not solve the problem, it is an important first step to making progress for today and future generations. Mental health should not be a shameful topic because it is something that we all experience.
Schools also play a role in supporting the mental health of their students. Teachers and school staff should be required to take a course on how to support their student’s mental health. Schools could also host information nights for parents on what to look out for in terms of their child’s mental health and how to support them. Anxiety can present itself in different ways, depending on the individual and the situation. Implementing courses and information sessions will give educators, parents, and guardians the knowledge they need to identify when their child may be experiencing anxiety and what they can do to support them. These information sessions can also be helpful for giving educators, parents, and guardians access to the resources that can be used to help their children.
Miller (2021) also suggests a few tips for how to support an anxious child or adolescent. It is important to validate your child or adolescent’s feelings. If they are feeling a certain way, there must be a reason for it. Encouraging them to think positively, such as talking about good things and things that they enjoy, can help to calm their anxiety. Practicing separation can be helpful for children and adolescents who are struggling with separation anxiety or have spent a lot of time with their parents or guardians, for example during pandemic lockdowns. Creating and maintaining a consistent routine before and during the school year helps to provide structure and predictability in their lives, which helps to make them feel more secure and remove uncertainty.
Bibliography
