KATHMANDU, Jan 17: Stress has long been part of childhood and adolescence, but experts say it often went unnoticed in the past. Today, however, rising stress levels among children and teenagers are becoming increasingly visible—pushing many towards serious mental health problems.
Doctors report a steady increase in anxiety and depression among young people. Kanti Children’s Hospital, which provides mental health services to children under 14, sees 10 to 15 children with stress-related disorders every day at its child mental health unit.
At Patan Hospital, which offers mental health services to adolescents under 18, an average of 15 to 20 patients seek treatment daily for depression- and anxiety-related conditions.
According to psychiatrist Dr Ananta Adhikari of Patan Mental Hospital, adolescents today are grappling with anxiety, depression, substance abuse, declining patience, and difficulties in social interaction. Another psychiatrist at the hospital, Dr Nirajan Bhattarai, says parents usually bring children for treatment only after they are unable to attend school or struggle to carry out daily activities.
“Just like adults, children also suffer from depression and anxiety,” Dr Bhattarai said.
Doctors say conditions such as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), behavioural problems, and attention disorders are common among children and adolescents. These issues have intensified further after the Gen Z protests, with a noticeable rise in children seeking treatment. Around 60 percent of children and adolescents with mental health conditions suffer from stress-related disorders, doctors say.
According to Dr Arun Kunwar, head of the Child Mental Health Department at Kanti Children’s Hospital, depression and anxiety existed among children in the past as well, but increased access to mental health services has led to better identification in recent years.
Coping with anxiety disorder in children
“These problems existed before, and they still exist today,” he said.
Doctors warn that as anxiety and depression increase, more complex problems are also emerging. Children seeking treatment include those who fail academically, refuse to attend school, struggle with routine activities, fall into substance abuse, or engage in self-harming behaviour.
“Recent Nepal Police data show a rise in suicide rates among children, and mental illness is the main cause,” said Dr Adhikari. According to police data, 7,194 people died by suicide in the last fiscal year.
Mental health problems are more common among children and adolescents living in nuclear families, those neglected at home or school, children from households with frequent family conflicts, adolescents whose parents consume alcohol or drugs, and those whose parents are working abroad.
Dr Kunwar says the changing structure of family and society has significantly affected child-rearing practices and has become a major source of stress for today’s children and adolescents.
“In the past, teenagers had to walk long distances to school, often went without snacks, and lacked warm clothes. Today’s stress is completely different,” he said.
According to Dr Kunwar, factors such as a lack of parental time due to foreign employment, care by single parents following divorce, family conflicts, a lack of playgrounds in cities, and social insecurity forcing children to stay indoors have all contributed to rising stress.
“In the past, children listened to their grandparents at home. Now, in nuclear families, there is often no one to listen or be listened to. Parents are busy working all day or are abroad,” he added.
Dr Adhikari points to excessive social media use, parents’ busy schedules, a lack of quality family time, and differences in clothing, spending, and lifestyle compared to peers as additional stressors for adolescents.
“There is a material world that not all children can afford to enjoy,” he said.
He also noted that faster physical and mental development among today’s children has led to earlier involvement in romantic relationships and quicker breakups, further increasing stress.
“Society is moving fast, so children are quickly exposed to everything, but parents cannot fulfil all their desires and aspirations,” he added.
Doctors say symptoms of depression in children include loneliness, feelings of worthlessness, sadness, loss of interest, reluctance to attend school, sudden anger, and involvement in conflicts. Anxiety symptoms include fear, panic, insomnia, panic attacks, restlessness, rapid heartbeat, and overwhelming worry. Children showing such symptoms should be taken to a psychiatrist in time, doctors advise.
Ways to reduce risk
If intervention is delayed, children may engage in self-harm, drop out of school, or attempt suicide. In severe cases, timely treatment and counselling—along with close monitoring of behavioural changes at home and school—can significantly reduce risks.
Doctors say parents can help by meeting reasonable demands, spending time with their children after returning home, listening to them, encouraging indoor physical activities, setting limits on mobile phone use, and communicating through their children’s friends. Schools, they add, should identify reasons behind academic disinterest and ensure appropriate support.
These measures, experts say, can help protect children from stress and improve their mental well-being.
