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National Anxiety Month: Understanding and Supporting Children’s Mental Health

May is not only Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s also National Anxiety Month. This initiative allows us to take a closer look at one of the most common mental health challenges affecting young people today: anxiety in children. By increasing anxiety awareness, we can take meaningful steps to understand the needs of children and teens, reduce stigma, and provide support that helps them grow, thrive, and feel empowered.

At Western Youth Services (WYS), we believe that early detection and support can completely change a child’s life. This blog dives deeper into the impact of anxiety on youth, shares key statistics, identifies the signs of anxiety in children, and provides ways to calm anxiety using both age-appropriate tools and resources.

Understanding Anxiety in Children

Anxiety is a very normal emotion and can sometimes even be considered a healthy feeling to experience. However, when it becomes excessive, persistent, or interferes with one’s daily life, it may be time to seek help. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health conditions in children and adolescents.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), around 9.4% of children between the ages of 3–17 have been diagnosed with anxiety problems. Anxiety can present in many forms, including separation anxiety, social anxiety, phobias, or generalized anxiety disorder.

Children experiencing anxiety may not always express their feelings directly. This is why it’s important to know what indicators to keep an eye out for.

Common Signs of Anxiety in Children

Recognizing the signs of anxiety in children can help adults respond with more empathy and support. The most common signs may include:

  • Frequent headaches or stomach aches with no medical cause
  • Difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares
  • Excessive worry or fear about everyday situations
  • Avoidance of school, social situations, or specific activities
  • Clinginess or difficulty separating from caregivers
  • Restlessness, irritability, or fatigue

These symptoms are not one size fits all and may vary depending on a child’s age and other factors. The Child Mind Institute offers additional insights into how anxiety can present in children.

At WYS, our clinicians are trained to assess and support youth experiencing anxiety through trauma-informed, culturally responsive care.

Tips to Calm Anxiety

Just because an individual may experience anxiety, it doesn’t always require clinical intervention. There are many gentle yet effective ways to calm anxiety at home, at school, and in the community.

Here are a few techniques that may be of help:

1. Create a Routine

Consistent daily routines help children feel secure and reduce the unpredictability that can worsen anxiety.

2. Practice Mindfulness and Breathing Exercises

Guided breathing, meditation, or grounding activities like “5-4-3-2-1” (name five things you see, four things you can touch, etc.) can help regulate emotions. Learn more about mindfulness practices specifically for kids from Smiling Mind.

3. Use Affirmations and Positive Self-Talk

Encourage kids to reframe negative thoughts with phrases like, “I am safe,” “I can handle this,” or “I am not alone.”

4. Build a Coping Strategy

A coping strategy might include calming music, sensory toys, drawing supplies, or a journal. Ideally, it would contain whatever helps the child self-soothe in that very moment. The Child Mind Institute shares helpful tips for building a calm-down kit.

5. Seek Support from Professionals

Sometimes, professional help is the best next step. At WYS, we provide specialized therapy for anxiety in youth, helping children and families develop tools for lifelong emotional well-being.

How Western Youth Services Can Help

At WYS, we offer a wide range of mental health services designed to support children, teens, and young adults through:

  • School-based mental health programs that make care accessible right on campus
  • No-cost mental health services for Orange County youth ages 0–25
  • Parent and caregiver education workshops to build supportive home environments
  • Trauma-informed counseling that addresses root causes and promotes resilience

All our services are offered with an emphasis on inclusivity, compassion, and cultural competence.

To learn more, visit our Programs & Services page.

Supportive Resources

Looking for trusted tools to support a young person dealing with anxiety? These resources can help:

The more we can increase awareness surrounding anxiety, the closer we become to building a world where young people feel seen, heard, and supported. By learning the signs of anxiety in children and exploring practical ways to calm anxiety, we can create more inclusive, safe and understanding spaces for our youth.  

This National Anxiety Month, try to listen without judgment, offer compassionate support, and work towards providing all youth with access to the care they need. Change begins with awareness, but healing happens through connection.

Western Youth Services is here to help. If you or a young person in your life needs support, visit www.westernyouthservices.org to learn more about our wide range of services.

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