BLOG PODS #13 - Anxious Children: Why The Increase & What Can Be Done?
INTRODUCTION
One legacy of COVID appears to be a sharp rise in child anxiety.
The number of children in England being referred to the NHS for anxiety has more than doubled since the start of the pandemic. The degree to which COVID is directly responsible is arguable, but the plain facts are not.
Official figures for 2023-24 reveal over 204,000 referrals for anxiety in children compared to just under 99,000 in 2019-20.
Understanding the Causes
As always, this is not an exhaustive list, but there seem to be a number of factors contributing to the rising levels of anxiety among children:
Academic Pressures:
The increasing intensity of academic expectations is a significant source of stress for children. The pressure to perform well in an environment that prioritises exam results can lead to huge anxiety. Yet again this year, I was dismayed at the media focus on GCSE results and the woeful lack of an alternative perspective (i.e. how the hell do you cope if you fail miserably? - a full post on this coming soon)
Social Media and Cyberbullying:
The pervasive nature of social media has introduced new challenges for today’s children and teenagers. Cyberbullying, appearance pressures and the associated constant temptation to compare yourself with others online can undermine self-esteem and contribute to feelings of anxiety. Add to this the time wasted and the diluting effect of worry on energy levels and the potential impact is obvious.
Economic and Social Inequality:
Rising poverty levels and widening inequalities exacerbate stress in families. Financial insecurity can be a breeding ground for anxiety, children see what’s going on and are sensitive to the struggles of their families - often blaming themselves.
Pandemic Aftermath:
The pandemic disrupted children's lives in profound ways, from social isolation to the loss of routine and stability, particularly around school attendance. Many struggled with the loss of older relatives in circumstances that precluded normal grieving or the opportunity to say good bye in person. Even years later, the impact of all this continues to affect children, leaving many feeling uncertain about the world and the future.
We could go on…
Responses: Policy Changes at a National Level
Addressing this kind of crisis requires a coordinated effort, starting with policy changes that prioritise mental health:
1. Increased Funding for Child Mental Health Services:
The NHS must receive further substantial funding boosts to expand mental health services for children. This includes employing more mental health professionals, reducing waiting times and ensuring that services are accessible to all children, regardless of their socio-economic background. (Dealing with the ongoing shortage of ADHD medications would help, too!)
2. School-Based Mental Health Programs:
Schools should implement comprehensive mental health education programs that go beyond basic awareness and having welfare support for kids that goes beyond trying to get them back into the classroom as soon as possible. Example provision might include regular mental health screenings, in-school counselling services and curricula that teach coping strategies and resilience from key stage 1 onwards.
3. Regulation of Social Media:
If we must stop short of banning children having mobile phones, we need stricter regulations to protect them from the harmful effects of social media. This could include age verification, strict limitations on targeted advertising and stronger measures against cyberbullying. The big cyber companies also need to be held to account for policing the content on their platforms.
4. Support for Families in Poverty:
Economic policies that properly target resources to reduce child poverty, such as increasing child benefits and family tax credits, measures to make childcare for working parents more accessible and affordable, providing free school meals and offering other (means-tested) financial supports for low-income families - all these could help alleviate one of the primary causes of anxiety.
Leave a comment below if you have other policy ideas to assist in reducing child anxiety in children.
Responses - Advice for Parents and Professionals
While policy changes are essential, parents and professionals also play a key role in supporting children’s mental health; here some thoughts:
1. Open Communication:
Encourage children to talk about their feelings and listen without judgment. Creating a safe space where they can express their worries can help ease some of their anxiety. Listening is a crucial part of communicating - asking, ‘how’re you doing?’ is one thing, listening attentively for the answer is another. Lots of honest cries for help are non-verbal or behavioural in nature, so working to be as attuned as possible will help us to spot these and respond before things get out of hand.
2. Promote Healthy Routines:
Stability in daily routines, including regular sleep, consistent care, balanced nutrition and physical activity, can help manage anxiety. Consistency, perhaps above all, offers a sense of security, which is particularly important for anxious children - they know what’s going on when, who’ll be around and what’s going to happen. When life around them is predictable children do better, so avoiding needless inconsistencies can have the opposite more stabilising effect.
3. Limit Screen Time:
Monitor and limit children's screen time, especially on social media and particularly late at night. Encourage offline activities that foster real-world connections and build a more positive self-esteem. Being outside and moving a little more - things former generations took for granted - can boost energy levels, move the focus outward and lift dopamine and other positive chemicals. Physical play, once the norm for children everywhere, needs to make a come back; parents, carers and professionals can all encourage (and model) this!
4. Seek Professional Help:
If a child’s anxiety is severe or persistent, seek professional help early. Early intervention can prevent anxiety from becoming more entrenched and harder to treat. Better to avert the onset of things like self-isolation or self-harming behaviours, than wait till they rear their heads before we do anything - prevention is always better than cure. Check online for useful information and advice, including signposts to local services. Maybe start with Young Minds…
FINAL THOUGHTS
The rise in childhood anxiety is a complex issue with no single easy solution.
However, by addressing the root causes through national policies and providing practical support at home and in schools, we can begin to mitigate this growing crisis.
It is imperative that we work together to prioritise the mental well-being of children, ensuring that they have the resources and support they need to thrive in an increasingly challenging world. Letting children be children should not be a passive process!
See you in the next one.
More information:
Some of these are ‘affiliate links’ - this means I get a small reward if you buy something, but it won’t cost you anything extra!
* WEB ARTICLE: Guardian article with case studies (link)
* STATS: NHS mental health referral data for anxiety in children (link)
* BOOK: This is one of my all-time favourite reads; it addresses, in-depth, the impact of modern life on human development. The Myth of Normal by Gabor Maté (link)
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©️ Jonny Matthew 2024
