Recent data proves what many people have suspected: Rates of anxiety and depression in children and teens rose during the pandemic. This has prompted first-time guidance calling for anxiety screening in children as young as eight years old.
The new guidance comes from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which is a <a href="https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/about-uspstf/current-members">group</a> of volunteer experts from various health fields, and is the same group that makes recommendations for things such as cancer and diabetes screenings. The guidance suggests that all kids, eight years old and up, get screened for anxiety.
The group initially released a similar recommendation for older kids in 2016, but they&#8217;ve now expanded on that previous guidance. 
They also said that kids between the ages of 12 and 18 should be screened for major depressive disorder, but they have issued that guidance in the past.
Pediatric psychiatrist Dr. Mitali Wadekar of Dignity Health Northridge Hospital in California spoke to The Daily Wire about this trend.
Dr. Wadekar said, “anxiety in children, as young as eight years old can manifest in very different ways. The common symptoms are things like…feeling anxious, nervous, having difficulty sleeping at night, poor appetite, refusal to attend school, refusal to participate in social activities.”
She added, “but it can also manifest, in addition to these emotional symptoms, that can also manifest with physical symptoms, including headaches, stomach aches, feeling excessively tired, nausea, vomiting, et cetera.”
The task force put out a draft evidence <a href="https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/document/draft-evidence-review/screening-anxiety-children-adolescents">review</a>, which is currently open to public comments, however, there are already some critics of the new guidance. 
Task force member Martha Kubik, a professor of Nursing at George Mason University, said, “Certainly, we all share the same concern about wanting to minimize this risk for young people and to intervene effectively so that we can prevent these consequences.” She warned, however, that screening children who are not obviously troubled could lead to stigma and needless anxiety.
The <a href="///Users/charlottepence-bond/Downloads/screening-anxiety-children-adolescents-draft-er%20(1).pdf">guidance</a> pointed to data from the Oregon Adolescent Depression Project that showed first episodes of anxiety were more common in childhood than teenage years. It also reported that an anxiety disorder appearing in childhood or these teen years made it more likely that a future anxiety disorder would exist. Additionally, it said that females are more at risk for anxiety disorders. 
There are many different factors that can lead to these disorders in kids, but according to the guidance, “some studies and reviews have reported links between the development of anxiety disorders and parenting characteristics such as overprotection… and interparental conflict.”
There are open debates about the over-diagnosis of childhood disorders, specifically ADHD, but there seems to be solid evidence that children are more anxious in recent years. Multiple <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7392374/">studies</a> discussing social media use are especially compelling. 
Dr. Wadekar said she has seen an increase in anxiety, noting how “there&#8217;s a lot of demand on [children] socially, academically, and now with the added stress of the pandemic over the…past two years.”
She added, “It has been incredibly difficult for these children…as far as how to socialize, why they cannot interact with their friends, why are they having to isolate.&#8221;
&#8220;It’s having a huge impact on their anxiety levels and on their relationships,&#8221; she stated.

<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Experts Recommend Anxiety Screening For Young Kids

CONTINUE READING

The Unanswered Question At The Center Of The SCOTUS Idaho Abortion Decision

How The Pro-Life Movement Can Positively Influence Laws Surrounding Fertility Treatments

Why Supporting Pregnant Incarcerated Women Is a Pro-Life Stand

Why Children Need Parents To Put The Phone Down And Look Them In The Eye

Postpartum Depression And The Devaluation Of Motherhood 

Why Gen Z Is Turning To Dating Apps To Find Friends, Fight Loneliness

News

Anxiety

Children

Health

Mental Health

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News —

Experts Recommend Anxiety Screening For Young Kids