Experts Recommend Anxiety Screenings for Kids

A group of leaders in the mental health field has a new recommendation for pediatricians. The panel would like to see all children age eight and older be screened regularly for anxiety at the doctor’s office. Screenings are done with a standardized questionnaire. Kids 12 and older are already being screened for depression at their check-ups. Experts agree that it is important to diagnose mental health illnesses early, when they are easiest to treat. Last year, the American Academy of Pediatrics declared a national emergency concerning children’s mental health.