All children worry. The threshold for clinical anxiety is when the worry is disproportionate to the situation, hard to switch off, and interfering with normal functioning (school attendance, friendships, sleep, family life). If it has lasted more than a few weeks and is getting worse rather than better, an assessment is worthwhile.

Both can manage anxiety, but psychiatrists have specialist mental-health training that is particularly useful for moderate-to-severe anxiety, complex presentations (anxiety with ADHD, autism, depression, or trauma), or where medication is being considered. Many families work with their paediatrician for general care and a psychiatrist for the anxiety-specific treatment plan.

Not always. Mild-to-moderate anxiety often responds well to CBT alone, particularly in children and adolescents. Medication is added when anxiety is severe, when it is blocking engagement in therapy, or when there is significant comorbid depression. SSRIs are well-evidenced and generally well-tolerated when needed.

Yes. School refusal is one of the most common presentations we see. The first step is understanding what is driving it — anxiety, learning difficulties, social problems, ADHD, depression, or some combination. Treatment then targets those drivers, with a graded plan to return to school in coordination with the school and your GP.

Yes. Panic disorder responds very well to a combination of psychoeducation (understanding what panic actually is), CBT focused on interoceptive exposure (deliberately bringing on feared physical sensations in a safe setting), and medication when severity warrants it. Many people see significant improvement within 8 to 12 weeks.

Research consistently shows telehealth psychiatric assessment and follow-up review are equivalent to in-person care for most presentations of anxiety. For socially anxious patients, telehealth often reduces the additional anxiety of a clinic visit and produces a more accurate clinical picture in the first appointment.