The burdens of anxiety disorders go beyond those experienced by young people. Hardships often extend to family members. For example, parents may end up missing work and incurring costs for treatments that are not publicly funded. Society also pays a price, in the form of lost human potential, when childhood anxiety is not prevented or treated early. Collective fiscal expenses exist as well. For instance, a Dutch study found that annual per capita societal costs were approximately $6,500 (in 2024 CDN$) higher for children with anxiety disorders than for those without them when considering costs such as health care, special education and loss of paid work for parents.

For more information, see Vol. 18, No. 4 of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly.