Step in when the kids aren’t all right

The pressures on young people are getting tougher with each passing year and the numbers suffering from anxiety are spiralling. Lisa Salmon finds out what parents and carers should be looking out for and where to go for advice

THE cost-of-living crisis is worrying most adults – but what about children, who are having to deal with less money, anxious parents, exams, plus all the pressures of social media and modern life?

There’s no doubt our kids are feeling the pressure, with NHS data suggesting nearly 300,000 young people in Britain have an anxiety disorder.

It is thought to affect up to 19 per cent of all children and adolescents in the UK, and up to five per cent of children younger than 12.

Children’s Mental Health Week, running until this Sunday, (childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk), is a chance to highlight this.

Deirdre Kehoe, co-CEO and director of training and services at children’s mental health charity YoungMinds (youngminds.org.uk), says it’s normal for children and young people to experience worry, stress or anxiety at certain points in their lives – such as at exam time, if they have difficult relationships with friends and family, money worries, or are concerned about news events.

But she pointed out: “More and more young people are needing support for their mental health, and anxiety is one of the most common mental health conditions.

“We know from speaking to young people and from our own research that the past year has been one of the most difficult for young people – emerging from the pandemic to more limited prospects for their futures, coupled with an increase in academic pressure to catch up on lost learning, and the impact of the cost of living crisis.”

If you think your child or grandchild may be sturggling there are some things you can look out for.

Signs of anxiety in children and young people may include…

Sleep problems

“Having difficulty nodding off, having bad dreams and maybe wetting the bed are signs of potential anxiety that could mistaken for another ailment,” said Dave Smithson, operations director at Anxiety UK.

Nervousness

If your child seems less able to cope and more nervous than usual, it may be caused by underlying anxiety, said Kehoe.

“Symptoms look different for everyone, but things your child might be experiencing include feeling nervous, overwhelmed, or full of dread,” she added.

Physical problems

Minor ailments such as tummy trouble or feeling faint may be an indication there’s an underlying issue. Kehoe said: “Physical symptoms, including feeling faint or having cramps or diarrhoea, can be a sign of anxiety.”

Smithson added: “Tummy upsets and headaches may be a common ailment, but they’re also a common side effect of anxiety in children and young people, especially if they occur frequently and are used as an excuse to avoid school.”

Becoming clingy

Smithson says another sign is your child becoming tearful or not wanting to let you go. This is often a sign of separation anxiety, which NHS data suggests is the most common form of anxiety in children under 12.

Change in eating habits

YoungMinds says problems with food can begin as a coping strategy when young people are anxious, and they may lose their appetite, or start comfort eating when not hungry. “If you notice a change in eating habits, it might be a sign that they need some help,” advised Kehoe.

Losing their temper

Teenagers are renowned for flying off the handle – but their outbursts may not just be the result of raging hormones, warned Smithson.

“Those teenage outburst of anger or frustration aren’t just signs of them growing up, but could also be a result of their underlying anxious thoughts and feelings,” he explained.

Lack of concentration

If your child is struggling to focus on a task, it could mean they’re stressing about something. “This could be another sign of anxiety in children and young people,” said Kehoe.

Reduced confidence

“If your child is becoming withdrawn, or if they seem to lack confidence or get upset, it might be an indicator that they need some help,” warned Kehoe.

Smithson points out that a lack of confidence or self-esteem may be an anxiety symptom in older, more adolescent children.