National Safe Schools Framework for Parents

Anxiety and depression

Anxiety

Anxiety is a sense of apprehension about what might happen.

All children will show signs of anxiety at various times. However, in some young people, the frequency and severity of their anxiety, plus the focus of their anxiety, signal that they could have an anxiety disorder.

Children’s feelings of anxiety can be reduced if they learn the skills of resilience – and this is where the partnership between you as parents, specialist professionals and your child’s school becomes important, so that you can work together to help your child.

You will find descriptions of some anxiety disorders below. If you read this and think your child might be showing some of these signs, seek professional help as soon as possible, preferably when your child is quite young. Early intervention can make a significant difference by teaching you and your child how to manage their anxiety.

Generalised anxiety disorder

Young people may experience excessive anxiety and worry about a wide range of situations, events or activities.

They may frequently worry about ‘what if …’ scenarios (eg ‘what if this plane crashes?’). Their behaviour is characterised by:

• high levels of emotion (eg crying over small things)
• attempts at avoidance (eg asking not to go to camp or trying to get out of a class presentation)
• overreactions to slightly threatening situations (eg staying overnight at their grandparents’ home)
• sleep disturbance.

Social phobia

It is natural for children (and adults) to feel self-conscious, nervous or shy in front of others at times. Any child can have a racing heart, sweaty palms or fluttering stomach when asked a question in class, joining a new team or club, or giving a presentation.

While most children manage to get through these moments when they need to, for some the anxiety and fear that goes with feeling shy or self-conscious can be extreme. It can seem so unbearable that they might feel too anxious to give answers in class, be unable to make eye contact with classmates, or avoid chatting with other students in the playground. When a child feels so self-conscious and anxious that it frequently prevents them from speaking up or socialising, it’s probably more than shyness. It may be an anxiety condition called social phobia.

Separation anxiety disorder

Separation anxiety is the most common reason for school refusal. Children with separation anxiety experience excessive concern about being separated from their parents. They worry that while they are apart some harm will occur to those they depend on. It is characterised by high levels of emotion, such as crying when separating from their parents; physical complaints (eg vomiting as a result of the adrenalin released into their system); and attempts to avoid being apart from their parents.

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD)

This involves obsessively anxious thoughts (eg about germs, snakes, vomiting) that cause distress and lead to compulsive and repetitive behaviours that give the illusion they are reducing the danger (eg excessive hand washing, checking doors, placing things in a certain order). The eating disorders bulimia and anorexia are seen by many researchers as a sub-type of OCD.

Further help about anxiety

The following websites have more information and ideas on how to seek help.

• KidsMatter: anxiety
• youth beyondblue: depression and anxiety in young people – information for parents
• AnxietyBC: helping your anxious child or teen^