Rising awareness reveals the importance of early intervention in children’s anxiety disorders

Experts emphasise the significance of distinguishing between normal nerves and mental health issues as childhood anxiety impacts a growing number of young people, with early diagnosis and intervention crucial for effective management.

Back-to-school season can unsettle many children, but specialists say there is an important difference between ordinary nerves and a mental health disorder. According to child and adolescent psychiatrist Suneeta Monga, some anxiety is expected and can even be useful, helping children prepare for a test or take care in everyday situations. The concern begins when fear and worry become persistent, intense and disruptive enough to interfere with school, friendships, sleep or family life.

Monga, who works at the University of Toronto and The Hospital for Sick Children, told parents at an online workshop that anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions in young people, affecting an estimated 10 to 20 per cent of children and adolescents. Medical references such as JAMA, the American Academy of Family Physicians and major clinical manuals say these conditions can take many forms, including separation anxiety, specific phobias, social anxiety, panic disorder, selective mutism and generalised anxiety disorder. Experts stress that early recognition matters because untreated anxiety can become chronic and affect a child’s development.

For some families, the signs are unmistakable. An Ottawa resident identified as Élise described chest tightness, shortness of breath, sensory overload and panic attacks that could escalate into self-harm. Another parent, Lisa, said her son’s anxiety went well beyond the usual reluctance seen in toddlers dropping off at day care. He was later diagnosed with both attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and anxiety, and still needs medication and occupational therapy strategies to manage his symptoms. Their experiences reflect what clinicians say is a common pattern: anxiety often shows up not just in worries, but in physical complaints, irritability, avoidance, tantrums and school refusal.

Monga said diagnosis usually requires a physician, psychiatrist or psychologist and a full assessment that includes the child, the parents and standard questionnaires. She added that anxiety disorders are shaped by a mix of genetics, temperament and learned responses, and that treatment depends on severity. For milder cases, healthy sleep, regular meals, exercise, reduced caffeine and careful limits on screen time can help. More significant cases may need medication, often antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, alongside therapy and gradual exposure to feared situations.

Parents are also urged to watch for warning signs that call for urgent help, including self-harm, substance use or statements about not wanting to live. Monga said schools should be part of the care plan whenever possible, because children do best when families, clinicians and teachers work together. Lisa, speaking as a parent who has navigated the system, said persistence is often necessary to secure the right referrals and therapy. Her message, echoed by clinicians, is that anxiety can be managed, but it rarely disappears on its own.