HPE News
Does your child experience periods of stress and/or anxiety? Do you have the knowledge and tools to support them?
Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome. It is a normal and often healthy emotion, but it can become overwhelming in some individuals in some circumstances. Anxiety disorders, a group of mental illnesses, are the most common mental health disorders worldwide. There are several signs and symptoms that can indicate the presence of anxiety. Some common physical symptoms include:
- Racing heart or palpitations
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Nausea or stomach upset
- Sweating or trembling
- Headaches or muscle tension
- Fatigue or difficulty sleeping
Some common emotional and psychological symptoms include:
- Constant worry or fear
- Feeling on edge or irritable
- Difficulty concentrating
- Avoiding certain situations or activities
- Feeling like you're in danger, even when you're not
- Feeling like you're going crazy or losing control
Palm Beach Currumbin State High takes student wellbeing seriously and implements a range of education and support programs. Some of these programs are provided broadly to all students (eg. CARE) whereas some are targeted at individuals who have been referred due to higher levels of need (eg. psychologist).
A PBC student survey across three years indicates that the proportion of junior students who report feeling often or always anxious has remained stable (31% in 2020 to 33% in 2022). In contrast, senior students reporting feeling often or always anxious has increased from 37% in 2020 to 49% in 2022. While this is based on student perception and does not indicate rates of anxiety disorder, it follows a trend being experienced worldwide of an increase in anxiety particularly in young people in a post-Covid era.*
When asked who students at PBC will seek help from regarding anxiety the top three responses are consistently friends, parents and nobody. For those that select nobody, they identify they did not want to burden their friends or family or just thought the condition would improve. However when considered with the increase in reporting feelings of anxiety in senior school, this suggests that the preferred approach is not providing the support required. This data also identifies that despite the range of education, support and intervention strategies implemented by Palm Beach Currumbin State High that senior students are increasingly feeling anxious and if they seek help they are turning to those they trust over those who have the knowledge.
Beginning Monday 27 February, Year 12 Health will be implementing the "Rise Every Day Mentally Stronger" program. Details of opportunity to learn more about recognising and supporting anxiety and anxiousness will be provided on the PBC facebook page. A key focus will be providing parents with information to support their children through any periods of anxiousness or anxiety, recognising the importance of the parent-child relationship as a support system. A parent information evening will be one such event, as well as a range of in school events for student attendance.