This post is sponsored by Children’s Mercy Kansas City.
Many of us likely know someone who struggles with anxiety and/or depression. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the rates of anxiety and depression have nearly doubled – and youth are not exempt from these numbers. The National Institute of Mental Health reports an estimated 31.9% of adolescents have experienced some kind of anxiety disorder. Children’s Mercy Kansas City has seen a 67% increase in mental health referrals since 2017; unfortunately, an estimated 40% to 50% of those affected go untreated in our region.
If you suspect your child or teen may be struggling with their mental health, Children’s Mercy Kansas City has tips on how to address your concerns, and there are resources available to support your entire family.
What is anxiety?
Anxiety can be described as a nervousness or uneasiness about some anticipation of danger or threat. It can include both emotional and physical symptoms of uncertainty and/or negative outcomes of future events. Symptoms of anxiety can include sense of panic or fear, difficulty sleeping, irritability, difficulty concentrating, sweating, stomach aches or nausea, headaches, and a rapid heartbeat. Some anxiety is normal and necessary to keep us safe and secure. For example, you may have some nervousness of anxiety if you have a big test, a job interview, or some other important milestone coming up. Anxiety can even be beneficial and keep us safe and away from dangerous situations. However, when anxiety is frequent and begins to interfere with your day-to-day activities, it can be problematic.
When should I be concerned?
If your child’s anxiety seems to be worsening, or impacts their ability to engage in daily activities, it may be time to seek help for their anxiety. Worsening anxiety could include missing several days of school, poor performance on coursework, avoiding social activities, or not wanting to leave the house.
What types of providers treat anxiety?
Therapists provide mental health care through therapy, diagnosing mental health disorders, skill building, coordination and collaboration with others involved in the individual’s life (with consent), supporting navigation through mental health care, developing safety plans, and referring to other mental health providers as appropriate. Therapists may have been trained as clinical social workers, professional counselors, psychologists, etc. Therapists typically specialize in specific populations and treatment approaches, e.g., Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectal Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy etc.
Psychologists provide therapy as stated above and may provide more specialized types of therapy. They are also trained in providing testing and assessment related to learning, intelligence, and processing.
Psychiatrists provide medical mental health care through psychiatric evaluations, diagnostics, and prescribing medications to address mental health symptoms and diagnoses.
How do I get help for my child?
- Talk with your child’s primary care provider. Your child’s pediatrician is a great place to start. You can share your observations of your child’s behavior, including:
- Behavioral changes: increased irritability, behavioral outbursts, changes in appetite, fidgeting, repetitive questioning
- Social changes: loss of interest in activities, withdrawal from family or friends, isolation
- School: sudden drop in academic performance, concern expressed by school professionals
- Additional information: family mental health history, major changes in your child’s life/daily routines, traumatic events
- Contact your insurance provider. Request a list of mental health providers available in your network or look online for a provider guide. Some of the provider guides have filters that you can utilize to look for providers that work with children or adolescents.
- Contact your community mental health center. These centers offer support in the community rather than in an institutional setting. These services may include therapy, psychiatry, wraparound services, case management and crisis services. These typically serve community members in specific counties.
Additional resources
If you’re looking for resources on a specific condition, Children’s Mercy Kansas City has developed a mental health toolkit outlining specific behavioral and mental health needs. Reference this toolkit for information related to:
- Anxiety and depression
- Support and acceptance for kids who are neurodivergent
- Eating disorders
- Suicide prevention
- Parent coaching and mentoring programs
- Accommodations for kids with mental health or sensory needs
If your child is making suicidal threats or actions, immediately call 911 or take them to the nearest emergency room. The Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available by dialing 988 and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 988 is available via call, text, or online chat. This resource is confidential.
Haley Killian, Ph.D. is a pediatric psychologist at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. She currently provides outpatient psychotherapy and consultations within pediatric subspeciality medical clinics. Haley has a variety of clinical experience including integrated behavioral health in primary care, collaboration and consultation within medical subspeciality clinics, and evaluation of developmental, behavioral, and emotional concerns in children. She has specialized training in autism evaluation and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Her research interests include parent and family factors that contribute to quality of life, physical health and well-being outcomes in children and adolescents.
