The BC Psychological Association and Anxiety BC are hosting a public talk on child anxiety this week, which one psychologist says is a growing issue.
This Tuesday at Richmond Caring Place Society, as part of psychology month, Dr. Mandy Chen will break down how anxiety presents itself in youth and how parents and educators can support youth who experience anxiety. According to Chen, the talk, which will be given in Mandarin, is part of an effort to share information about mental health to a diverse population.
“There really isn’t a lot of information out there that’s accessible to parents about child anxiety that’s offered in Mandarin,” she told Richmond News.
Chen said she has noticed a rise in reports of anxiety in children, but the reason for this is unclear.
One cause could actually be positive, as increased awareness may have helped youth, parents and educators understand and recognize anxiety better.
However, Chen said another reason for the increase could be the amount of information that’s available to young people.
“Kids, very little, are on the internet and so some of these things that they’re reading, they may not be able to fully comprehend and that creates anxiety,” she said.
“So it’s possible that there’s just increased awareness and also possible that the environment is getting a bit more complex.”
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, anxiety is the most common mental illness amongst Canadian children. Hoping to shed some light on this during Tuesday’s presentation, Chen intends break down how different age categories may experience anxiety.
“It can show up differently depending on the age of the child. In the very little ones, they’re not yet able to necessarily tell you what they’re thinking and what’s triggered the anxiety,” she said. “Oftentimes what they would say are the body senses, so butterflies in the stomach, ‘my heart is racing’ or ‘I’m sweaty.’”
Older kids might be able to express what they’re actually thinking or worried about, while teens might start to recognize negative patterns of thinking that could contribute to feelings of anxiousness. For some families, Chen said this foundational information could be really helpful.
“What I heard from a lot of counsellors and teachers in Richmond is that this information will be so helpful for a lot of the families, and oftentimes they just are not able to provide that in Mandarin,” she said.
Chen pointed to other cross-cultural barriers that might make it hard for newcomers to address their child’s mental health needs.
“Generally, (newcomer) families are less likely to seek help. I think there’s the language barrier there for sure and also definitely the stigma,” she said.
While Chen pointed out that mental health stigma is cross-cultural, some newcomers might not know what supports are available to their child in their school.
“I think there is a lack of understanding of how the education system functions in general,” she said. “What is the role of the school counsellor and what are the resources available to help a child that might be anxious in the school?”
This is why, Chen noted, it’s important for schools to step up and open a dialogue about mental health.
“It’s absolutely normal for everyone to struggle once in a while about their emotions and if you’re experiencing anything that you might feel may be a bit unusual, reach out to the teachers, reach out to the coaches, reach out to the school counsellors,” she said. “There is a team of people who are willing to listen and support you.
“It’s ok for you to ask for help.”
For more information about Tuesday’s talk or for a full list of public conversations on mental health taking place throughout the Lower Mainland this month, visit BCPA’s website.
