Stress and fear can strike at any age, but now educators and parents are grappling with how to help school-aged kids coping with anxiety.
Experts say not dealing with anxiety can interfere with school, family activities, and can lead to more serious mental health problems.
Shawna Matthes said her sweet and smart 6-year-old daughter Daniella has experienced severe anxiety.
At first she thought Daniella’s hesitation around mascots was just a stage, but then it escalated.
Matthes said her daughter complained at times of a stomach ache when she didn't want to go to school.
Matthes said she was scared to the point where she didn't want to attend any event where a mascot might be.
"This one time the children's festival came around, and I couldn't convince her to go. She was pounding her fists on the floor, crying, and I said 'okay, we don't have to go'," said Matthes.
Daniella is not alone as a child living with anxiety.
Anxiety is a struggle for about one in 10 children, according to Manitoba-based clinical psychologist and anxiety expert Dr. John Walker.
"Some have more social anxiety, some have more specific fears, but there is a wide range of problems that kids run into," said Walker, who is developing prevention programs for kids to overcome anxiety.
The Winnipeg School Division said it's concerned about the levels of anxiety among students in grade 5 and grade 8, after surveys found anxiety was higher in transition periods for students.
"We know that students, staff, parents definitely talk about anxiety as something that impacts the learning in the school setting, and we know that it can make it difficult sometimes for students academically," said Jón Olafson, WSD student services consultant.
Signs of Childhood Anxiety
Walker encourages parents to listen to their child and watch for symptoms. He said the most common symptom is a child not wanting to do an activity most other kids enjoy, like swimming, riding a bike, or going to school.
“Children that have a lot anxiety don't do so well at school because they are more reluctant to try things,” Walker said. “Their academic performance isn't as good. Often their social life isn't as good as other children.”
If anxiety persists in childhood, Walker said there's a greater risk the child will deal with anxiety as a teenager and adult, which makes people more prone to depression.
Solutions and supports
Matthes took Dr. Walker’s 10 week, online course for parents, "Coaching for Confidence".
The key to overcoming anxiety, Walker said, is working with the child before they have to face their fear.
"Practicing the difficult situation with your child a lot, creating motivation for your child to practice, that really has an impact," he said
For Matthes, that meant showing and explaining that underneath the mascot, there was a real person, and that it was just a costume.
Daniella recently told her mom, she's ready to face her fear of mascots. She's doing well in school, and hasn't missed a day of classes this year.
Preventing anxiety
Every day at Weston School, elementary students practice breathing and focusing during a ‘mindful moment’.
The exercise was developed by the Winnipeg School Division to help students tackle stress and anxiety.
This is the second year for the sessions aimed to prevent anxiety in kids, and it appears mindful moments are catching on.
CTV News attended a mindful moment in a grade 2 and 3 class.
“Can you please make mindful moments longer because it's peaceful and quiet,” said student Miles Doyle-Thomas, as he read aloud a letter he wrote to his teacher.
The students also do yoga exercises, and are learning to identify symptoms of distress -- how a racing heart beat or sweating is connected to the brain.
"It's really stigma-reducing so sometimes we can have students or families or parents that are maybe a little apprehensive talking about feelings, or talking about anger, or talking about sadness, or talking about worries, so it's enabling those conversations to happen," said Jón Olafson with WSD.
So far, educators at 32 schools in the WSD have had mindfulness training. The goal is to have the training expanded to all schools.
Information and resources
Anxiety Disorders Association of Manitoba said demand for information about childhood anxiety has increased.
In 2011, it didn't do any presentations on the topic. To date in 2016, ADAM has given 18 presentations to schools, community centers and parents’ groups.
The association said one of reasons there’s more demand is because anxiety can look like other mental health concerns such as depression, learning difficulties, or ADHD.
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority said there are a number of resources for parents and kids coping with anxiety. Manitoba’s Positive Parenting Program can provide tools to prepare parents for difficult transitions or changes that may prompt anxiety in some children.
Also, Stress Hacks, a resource for children under 18, can help identify the appropriate resources or level of support.
“Any child experiencing severe mental health concerns should be referred directly to the WRHA’s centralized intake system for youth and child mental health at: 204-958-9660,” the WRHA said in a statement.
“School refusal is a classic example of a behaviour exhibited by children that would indicate the need to involve mental health professionals.”
