Anxiety is a normal emotion that we all have to deal with from time to time. It is important: it keeps us safe from danger and prevents us from engaging in risky behaviours. We can deal with anxiety by responding and dealing with the threat in question. Small amounts of well-managed anxiety can be helpful and actually improve our performance in some instances (such as sports and tests). Anxiety is therefore not a ‘bad’ emotion. However, anxiety can become a problem when it is severe and leads to significant distress for children and has become disruptive to their daily functioning for longer than a few weeks.
Anxiety disorders are amongst the most common causes of childhood psychiatric conditions and occur in 2.2% of 5-10 year-olds and 4.4% of 11-16 year-olds (Public Health England, 2016). The development of problematic anxiety is usually the result of a complex interplay of factors including genetics, child temperament, and environmental factors such as life events, poor relationships, and exposure to anxious behaviour. Schools have a very important role to play in supporting children and young people who struggle with anxiety. School staff are well-placed to help with identifying anxiety early, and putting in good, holistic support for these children or referring onwards where necessary.
It is important to remember that anxiety can manifest in lots of different ways in children and young people. The child that may cry when they become anxious presents very differently to the child who shouts and throws things when anxious. Although not an exhaustive list, some things to look out for if a child or young person may have anxiety is:
- Feeling panicky or nervous
- Poor appetite or overeating
- Trembling or shaking
- Poor concentration
- Feeling nauseas, dizzy or faint
- Difficulty sleeping
- Palpitations
- Tired or irritable
If you see a child or young person showing these symptoms, consider getting extra support for them from an educational psychology service. You can also refer the child to a GP, Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHs), or a school nurse. Many schools now have Mental Health Support Teams which prioritise early intervention for difficulties like anxiety and low mood.
Classroom Support
There are a few things that can be done in the classroom to support students with anxiety. We have a course written and developed by educational psychologist Dr. Amy Sweet which supports the adults around the child in recognising and identifying anxiety, implementing practical strategies for individual pupils, and supporting staff in developing a whole-school approach to support with anxiety. The course can be found here.
