The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports teenagers are experiencing high levels of anxiety and worry, indicating a mental health crisis among America’s youth.
But worry doesn’t always start in the teenage years. That’s what Nemours KidsHealth focused on children in its What's Worrying America's Kids Survey.
The survey asked 504 kids between 9 to 13 years old about why children worry, where they go for help, and how they cope.
86% reported they worry, primarily about school and friendships, with a third of those kids saying they worry once a week or more.
More than 75% of the younger children polled say they turn first to their parents when they worry. That number goes down by more than 20% for 12 to 13-year-olds. As kids get older, they tend to turn to their friends for help.
Dr. Meghan Walls, Pediatric Psychologist and Director of External Affairs at Nemours Children’s Health, says this isn’t unexpected, but important to keep in mind.
“I think this is a really good educational thing for parents to see and think ‘Oh I need to talk to my kids. I need to make sure that if they are worried, or something’s happening, that I as an adult am stepping in.’ And I think that’s a really great piece that this survey points out. Both on how kids feel stuck, but they’re not alone and we can help them, and that kids can be resilient,” said Walls.
Knowing the symptoms of worry is crucial for both parents and kids. For kids, it can help them know when to ask for help. For adults, it can help them know when they may need to reach out to their kids and offer support.
When worried, children reported feeling sick to their stomach or like their stomach hurt, head pain, feelings of tiredness or sleepiness, lack of appetite, shakiness, sweatiness, shortness of breath, and dizziness.
A little under half of kids reported feeling distracted or unable to focus when worried, sad or miserable, and quiet, or like they don’t want to talk to anyone.
Overall, Walls says worry is normal, but certain signs can indicate intervention from a mental health professional may be needed.
“What I really want folks to do, and parents to do, is think about when worry starts to affect your child. So if they’re not wanting to hang out with friends, if they’re not wanting to go to school, that’s a really good time to stop it from becoming a clinical problem,” she said.
Understanding worry doesn’t prevent it, and may not stop kids from experiencing anxiety and depression when they get older, but it can help caregivers provide them with the tools they need to navigate it and have healthier outcomes.
To read more about how kids experience worry, and what caregivers and kids can do to navigate those feelings, visit Nemours.org.
