Child anxiety and depression are on the rise

Over the past six years, the situation with children’s mental health has deteriorated markedly. According to an analysis of data from the National Survey of Children’s Health in the United States, the proportion of minors suffering from anxiety and depression has increased significantly.

The authors of the project from the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago concluded that the problem has not only not disappeared since the pandemic, but continues to grow. In contrast, rates of asthma, headaches, and other bodily ailments were declining.

Notably, the rise in mental problems has occurred against a backdrop of relative prosperity in physical health. For example, between 2016 and 2022, the number of children with asthma decreased from 8.4% to 6.5%, and severe headaches became less common, from 3.5% to 2.6%. Heart ailments in children remained stable.

Meanwhile, the number of adolescents with anxiety disorders increased from 7.1% to 10.6% and depression from 3.2% to 4.6%. Diagnoses related to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder also increased, but not as markedly. Behavioral difficulties remained about the same.

According to scientific director Maria Heffernan, the problem requires urgent attention from society. Parents, educators and schools often simply don’t know how to help a child who has become anxious or suffers from depression. They need support, resources, and tools to respond in a timely manner.

Pediatrician and co-author Dr. Michelle Macy noted: stopping the negative trend requires understanding the underlying causes of what is happening. Teenagers’ stress levels are rising due to social changes, academic pressures, family problems and online environments – all of which are gradually undermining the resilience of the child’s psyche.

With mental wellbeing under threat, it is especially important to talk about it openly and not delay intervention. The earlier a distress signal is noticed, the better the chances of restoring a child’s inner balance and self-confidence.