Anxiety and depression have been on the rise in American’s youth even before pandemic. (See here.) A federal task force now recommends that children be screened for anxiety starting at age 8 and for depression starting at age 12.
The US Preventative Services Task Forces issued these recommendations after finding that less than half of primary-care physicians “always ask” their pediatric patients about mental health. The recommendations of the Task Force, which is part of the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, support widely followed strategies to ensure that children who are diagnosed with anxiety or depression–or related disorders–receive therapy without delay.
Instruments used to screen a child range from screening for a specific disorder–such as the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory for Children–to broader, generalized, screens used to screen for various disorders–like the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED) (global anxiety and any anxiety disorder) and the Patient Health Qustionnaire-Adolescent (generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and panic disorder). The most-common instruments, according to the Task Force are the SCARED and Social Phobia Inventory.
If you believe that your child suffers from anxiety or depression, and that your child’s education is being impaired because of their mental health, you can request your district to evaluate your child for a disability covered by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. In particular, a psychoeducational assessment and a functional behavior assessment will help identify your child’s precise needs. Having your child evaluated is an important step that you can take to help your child succeed in and out of the classroom by receiving services tailored to your child’s needs.
Questions or concerns about your child or the education they’re receiving (or not receiving) from the district? Let’s talk. Request a free consultation today and discover how Winter Law Firm can help you and your family.