Back-to-School Anxiety: How Parents Can Spot Anxiety Disorder in Children
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
As the new school year approaches, Hong Kong parents are being advised to distinguish between normal back-to-school jitters and potentially serious anxiety disorders affecting their children. Mental health experts highlight that young children may struggle to verbalize their stress, expressing it instead through physical symptoms or behavioral changes that can easily be misinterpreted as disobedience .
Save the Children Hong Kong advisor and psychiatrist Dr. Chan Kwok-ling warns that since post-pandemic school life normalization, student suicide cases have increased over the past one to two years, indicating rising pressure among schoolchildren . A survey of 408 teenagers aged 13 to 18 conducted by the organization revealed alarming findings: 96.8% rarely or never seek help from teachers, 97.5% rarely or never approach social workers, and even 73.3% rarely confide in parents about emotional problems .
Key Points
- Transition challenges for kindergarten to primary students include shift from half-day to full-day schooling, increased homework demands, and navigating entirely new social circles
- Survey of 408 teens aged 13-18 found 96.8% rarely or never seek help from teachers, and 97.5% rarely approach social workers for emotional support
- Physical anxiety symptoms include stomach pain, nausea, headaches, rapid heartbeat, chest discomfort, breathing difficulties, trembling, sweating, fatigue, and sleep problems
- Psychiatrist Dr. Cheung Hoi-kay advises parents to monitor whether physical symptoms appear before school and subside at home, which may indicate anxiety-related causes
- The three-tier emergency mechanism for upper primary schools expires on August 31, with experts recommending its permanent implementation and regularizing the one-time 200,000 yuan parent education subsidy
Why It Matters
The mental health crisis among Hong Kong students has escalated since pandemic restrictions lifted, with children now facing compounded pressures from academic demands and social reintegration. If left unaddressed, untreated anxiety can severely impact academic performance, family relationships, and social development well into adulthood. Parents and schools must work together to create supportive environments where children feel comfortable seeking help rather than suffering in silence.
The mental health crisis among Hong Kong students has escalated since pandemic restrictions lifted, with children now facing compounded pressures from academic demands and social reintegration. If left unaddressed, untreated anxiety can severely impact academic performance, family relationships, and social development well into adulthood. Parents and schools must work together to create supportive environments where children feel comfortable seeking help rather than suffering in silence.