Kids’ Rising Stress and Anxiety: How Can We Help?

Anxiety is the most common emotional issue in children. According to the National Institute of Health, nearly one in three adolescents aged 13 to 18 will experience an anxiety disorder. In recent years, anxiety disorders in children and teens have risen as much as 20 percent, and incidences of suicidal teenagers have doubled over the past decade. However, only one percent of youth with anxiety seek treatment, and symptoms can go untreated for years. School counselors are desperately seeking ways to help stressed-out students by teaching coping skills to combat this rising concern.

Anxiety disorders arise when a person develops an anxious response to things most cope with easily. Children can develop irrational fears and worries leading to avoidance of social situations and normal daily activities. Anxiety disorders can be difficult to identify because they are often mistaken for other conditions such as ADHD, disruptive behaviors or a learning disorder. Untreated anxiety disorders can result in school failure, absenteeism, depression, self-harm and increased risk of substance abuse. They can also interfere with a student’s ability to focus in the classroom, which in turn can have a lifelong impact on their education.

What’s causing the rise in childhood and teen anxiety?

Between today’s standardized testing and culture of achievement, kids feel pressure to achieve and excel more than ever before. With an increase in school shootings, the lock-down culture is causing many to feel the world is a scary and threatening place. Today’s teens are constantly connected to social media and engaged in FOMO (fear of missing out). Comparing their lives to the artificial world on social media platforms can negatively affect students’ mental health. According to a 2018 Child Mind Institute study, higher emotional investment in social media has been strongly correlated with higher levels of anxiety.

How can school counselors help students struggling with anxiety?

Delivering a multitiered approach aligned with a comprehensive school counseling program not only helps those students with specific anxiety issues but helps all students build resiliency to stress.

• Tier 1: School counselors can infuse social/emotional learning for stress into their classroom lessons for the benefit of all students.  One effective technique is “On the Same Breath Initiative” developed by Cheryl Crawford. Students learn 4 breaths in 40 days, “empowering them to break through negative blocks and create new habits. Each breath in this powerful sequence is accessible and easy-to-learn tool for creating the mind-body connection.” Teaching students deep breathing techniques has several research-based benefits. Breathing strengthens focus and attention; fosters deeper and better sleep by releasing physical, mental and emotional tension; and strengthens self-awareness.              
• Tier 2: Small groups are effective for students struggling with anxiety, worry and stress on a deeper level. “Stress Busters” is a small-group intervention specifically designed to work with students with anxiety disorders. Students practice coping skills such as yoga, journaling, visualization, art therapy and talk therapy.
• Tier 3: Providing individual counseling, such as cognitive-behavior therapy, helps students reframe their negative thoughts. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, the most effective treatment is the combination of CBT and SSRI medications. School counselors at Tier 3 should work with parents and make the appropriate referrals for additional support as needed.

Teaching Grit and Resiliency

According to Angela Duckworth, grit is “the mental toughness, perseverance, courage and resolve, determination, strength of character and tendency to pursue long-term goals.” Grit is important because it is a driver of achievement and success, beyond talent. Giving a child the chance to fail and bounce back is one of the greatest gifts. It is within this learning process that they will develop perseverance and resiliency. Anxiety can be a real barrier to learning or can be used as motivation to overcome life’s obstacles. Through our unique role as school counselors, we can teach that failure is not a permanent condition but an impetus for positive change.

With a multitiered approach to support, school counselors can use a variety of techniques to teach all students, including those who would have never sought assistance or help. By learning ways to manage stress, students build a tool kit of valuable life skills for now and for their future.

Barbara Truluck, NCC, is a school counselor at Palmer Middle School in Kennesaw, GA, in Cobb County School District. She is the 2019 Georgia school counselor of the year and can be reached at Barbara.Truluck@cobbk12.org @palmercounselor