Anxiety is the leading mental health issue among American youth, and experts suggest it is rising.
Based on data collected from the National Survey of Children's Health for ages 6 to 17, researchers found a 20% increase in diagnoses of anxiety between 2007 and 2012.
Author and child development expert Maureen Healy says children don't always know how to get themselves under control.
Healy is speaking and signing books tonight, Thursday, October 18th at 7pm at Third Place Books in Ravenna.
In The Emotionally Healthy Child, Healy explains that emotional health is the ability to make better choices, even when feeling anger or another big emotion. She describes that the ability to — Stop, Calm, and Make a Smarter Choice — are key to expressing emotions constructively. While not always easy, these steps are powerful, and parents and caregivers can help children find equilibrium in the moment and build emotional well-being over the long-term.
More tips for parents can be found on Healy's site: Growing Happy Kids
