On the Front Lines Against Student Anxiety

“Neither comprehension nor learning can take place in an atmosphere of anxiety.” –Rose Kennedy
It was a typical school day. There was a knock at my open door. One of my favorite students was in tears. She said, “Ms. Morgan are you busy? I am feeling so much anxiety. Can I just come into your office and breathe?” I am sure many of us over the course of this school year have heard similar requests. In networking with other school counselors, there seems to be a rising concern over students with anxiety issues.

In actuality, anxiety is one the most pervasive mental health concerns affecting students. If left untreated, anxiety can hinder students’ social/emotional, academic and career development. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders currently affect one in eight children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported about 1.8 million children under the age of 18 as having anxiety disorders, with 6 years old being the median age of onset.

When I was assigned to write this article on student anxiety, I began to look at current research trends on the topic. Since national statistics were so alarming, I looked to see what state and local statistics indicated in comparison. We have a wealth of readily available information using our most recent Washington State Healthy Youth Survey. Your school administrators will also have access to district and building level information from this survey.

According to our state information from the latest survey, the number of teens in our state who report feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge continues to rise. In 2018, about one in three 10th and 12th graders reported feeling nervous, anxious, and unable to stop worrying. From 2016 to 2018, anxious feelings among eighth graders increased from 22 to 26 percent. Tenth graders experiencing such feelings increased from 31 to 33 percent, while 12th graders increased from 33 to 35 percent. I then accessed my building data from this survey, which showed similar trends as compared to the state average. I also was able to see that the senior class showed a higher percentage of anxious feelings as compared to the state average. Next, I followed the trail and went directly to a sampling of my seniors who participate in the International Baccalaureate program in my school. The IB Coordinator and I administered a survey to gather anecdotal information on the topic of anxiety. The results echoed what the numbers were saying to us. These seniors were also able to provide ideas on what would help with this issue.

In response, our school counseling department has developed action plans to begin to address the problem. Specifically, we are increasing the number of times that school counselors visit senior classrooms for instruction on topics that can lead to anxiety for seniors; continuing our one-on-one advising appointments with each senior twice a year at a minimum; and working collaboratively with teachers, senior advisors, our career center and our graduation specialist to provide support for the senior class. We are also continuing our student Peer Assistance Program, which provides identified student mentors with instruction on how to recognize red flags among their peer group and how to build a bridge to appropriate helping resources.

The battle of student anxiety can prove to be overwhelming for many school counselors. More and more students seem to have anxiety and the ratio of students to school counselors is ever increasing. Many areas of our state are also lacking community mental health resources. Despite all of this, I encourage you to continue to fight this battle. Look at your local data, formulate a plan and begin with small steps. The American School Counselor Association website provides links to resources and research to help you with your journey. Also, remember that our WSCA conference is coming February 26–28. Mark your calendars! Our keynotes and workshops that will provide ideas for student support. One of my 10th-grade students today summed it up well. He said, “The struggle is real, Ms. Morgan.” Our students need us now more than ever.