Do Australian Children Suffer from an “Anxiety Epidemic”?
Announcement posted by Cuddles Childcare Centre 19 Oct 2015
Director of childcare centre near Baldivis reveals surprising statistics on child anxiety disorders and how parents can make their children’s lives easier.
Perth, WA, 19 October 2015 - If it seems like more and more children have anxiety disorders, it is because they actually do. Statistics in Australia and around the globe indicated that more children suffer from anxiety disorders today than at any time in history.
While there are no exact statistics, it is estimated that 11% of children in Australia are being treated for some form of either anxiety or depression. In the United Kingdom, an estimated 10% of children have a diagnosis of anxiety or depression. In the United States, it is far worse, as approximately 20% of children there have been diagnosed with depression or anxiety disorder.
While exact numbers are available, they aren’t encouraging. In the ACT, ACT Health has a service called the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. In 2013-2014, the service reported 63,430 visits by teens and adolescents for anxiety or depression. That was an increase of 7,354 visits over the previous year for a rise of 11.6%. This is obviously not a sustainable model for mental health.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a “hard-wired” survival mechanism that prepares us for action if we are in danger. In pre-industrial, neolithic and paleolithic societies, anxiety was important to our survival. It provides a feeling of nervousness, unease or uncertainty if we are in danger.
Unfortunately, in today’s society, many people’s “wiring” betrays them, giving them signals that produce nervousness or unease when people aren’t in any danger at all. When this has life-changing, negative effects, usually in the form of chronic anxiety, panic attacks or both, it is seen as an anxiety disorder.
What Causes Anxiety?
According to the currently accepted model, genetics plays a large role in whether or not a child will suffer from anxiety. An oft-cited study at Macquarie University indicates that children with at least one parent suffering from anxiety is from 7-11 times more likely to suffer from anxiety themselves.
However, this fails to take two other possibilities into consideration. First, the affected parent can be role-modeling anxiety instead of passing it along genetically. The parent can also be causing the anxiety by traumatising the child.
Trauma is the other main cause of anxiety. This trauma can come from bullying, abuse, instability and chronic vigilance or fear in the home. Parents can traumatise their children by hovering over them with fear; these are known as “helicopter parents.” Children can also be traumatised by having parents who are too busy working to spend time with them.
Strategies for Avoiding Anxiety Disorders
It is best to be accepting and nurturing of children’s emotions. Too many parents force their children to “work through their fears,” but only end up making them worse and causing trauma. The best way to handle children’s emotions is to let them know that it is normal to feel fear, sadness and other emotions. A little bit of love can go a long way towards healing a child.
Cuddles Childcare Centres offer childcare for children in Baldivis and a host of Perth suburbs. Their motto is “learning through play” and they specialise in providing a fun, nurturing environment for preschool aged children. To learn more, contact any Cuddles Childcare Centre in the Perth area by phone or through their website: http://www.cuddleschildcare.com.au/.
While there are no exact statistics, it is estimated that 11% of children in Australia are being treated for some form of either anxiety or depression. In the United Kingdom, an estimated 10% of children have a diagnosis of anxiety or depression. In the United States, it is far worse, as approximately 20% of children there have been diagnosed with depression or anxiety disorder.
While exact numbers are available, they aren’t encouraging. In the ACT, ACT Health has a service called the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. In 2013-2014, the service reported 63,430 visits by teens and adolescents for anxiety or depression. That was an increase of 7,354 visits over the previous year for a rise of 11.6%. This is obviously not a sustainable model for mental health.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a “hard-wired” survival mechanism that prepares us for action if we are in danger. In pre-industrial, neolithic and paleolithic societies, anxiety was important to our survival. It provides a feeling of nervousness, unease or uncertainty if we are in danger.
Unfortunately, in today’s society, many people’s “wiring” betrays them, giving them signals that produce nervousness or unease when people aren’t in any danger at all. When this has life-changing, negative effects, usually in the form of chronic anxiety, panic attacks or both, it is seen as an anxiety disorder.
What Causes Anxiety?
According to the currently accepted model, genetics plays a large role in whether or not a child will suffer from anxiety. An oft-cited study at Macquarie University indicates that children with at least one parent suffering from anxiety is from 7-11 times more likely to suffer from anxiety themselves.
However, this fails to take two other possibilities into consideration. First, the affected parent can be role-modeling anxiety instead of passing it along genetically. The parent can also be causing the anxiety by traumatising the child.
Trauma is the other main cause of anxiety. This trauma can come from bullying, abuse, instability and chronic vigilance or fear in the home. Parents can traumatise their children by hovering over them with fear; these are known as “helicopter parents.” Children can also be traumatised by having parents who are too busy working to spend time with them.
Strategies for Avoiding Anxiety Disorders
It is best to be accepting and nurturing of children’s emotions. Too many parents force their children to “work through their fears,” but only end up making them worse and causing trauma. The best way to handle children’s emotions is to let them know that it is normal to feel fear, sadness and other emotions. A little bit of love can go a long way towards healing a child.
Cuddles Childcare Centres offer childcare for children in Baldivis and a host of Perth suburbs. Their motto is “learning through play” and they specialise in providing a fun, nurturing environment for preschool aged children. To learn more, contact any Cuddles Childcare Centre in the Perth area by phone or through their website: http://www.cuddleschildcare.com.au/.