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Understanding Children and Young People’s Mental Health

Fears and phobias

Some children develop fears, such as being afraid of the dark, monsters, ghosts, loud
noises or of certain animals. Extreme forms of these fears are known as phobias.
They can cause a great deal of distress to the child and affect their life in many ways,
sometimes preventing them from doing things with friends and family. Often the child
will grow out of the fear or phobia, but they may need help and support to do so.

Generalised Anxiety Disorder

This arises for some children for no apparent reason and may be part of a pattern of
behaviour similar to other family members. In cases where this generalised anxiety
becomes severe, it may prevent the child going about their day-to-day lives, going to
school and being with their friends.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Sometimes children and young people can find it difficult to be in social situations
that are unfamiliar to them. Whilst they can function well with people they know and
in situations with which they are familiar, they will avoid new ones and appear
excessively shy.

The child may worry about doing things with other people, going to parties or taking
part in activities and about doing things when others are watching, such as playing
sport or reading aloud in class.

Clearly this can be very limiting for the child, and may lead to further stress and
anxiety as they struggle to cope with their feelings.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published
standards about this subject and the ways in which social anxiety can be
recognised and treated.

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