Understanding childhood anxiety

Children with anxiety may also exhibit social withdrawal, reluctance to play with others and declining academic performance. [iStockphoto]

Anxiety disorders are the world's most common mental disorders, affecting 301 million people in 2019, as reported by the World Health Organization and 5.8 million children, according to the Centres for Disease Control.

While occasional worry is a common human experience, anxiety disorders manifest as intense and excessive fear and apprehension.