Each June, Action Anxiety Day educates Canadians about anxiety, raises awareness and reduces stigma around anxiety disorders. It offers parents and educators an opportunity to empower children and youth with coping strategies and knowledge.

Anxiety Canada established Action Anxiety Day in 2021. Though Anxiety Canada closed their doors on April 30, 2025, the event lives on in schools and communities. Resources and educator toolkits will remain available on the Anxiety Canada website until March 2026.

A systematic review from the Children’s Health Policy Centre found that anxiety disorders are the most commonly experienced child and youth mental health concern. At any given time, approximately 5.2% of four-to-18-year-olds will meet criteria for an anxiety disorder. But evidence-based interventions such as cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) can help.

To learn more about preventing and treating anxiety in children and youth, see Vol. 19, No. 1 and Vol. 19, No. 2 of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly.