Screen Kids 8 and Older for Anxiety, US Health Panel Recommends

Health experts are recommending children and adolescents be screened for anxiety and depression as a step to address the US youth mental health challenges.

For the first time, US Preventive Services Task Force recommended on Tuesday that children ages 8 and older be screened for anxiety. It also suggested those 12 and older be screened for depression. A month ago, the group recommended all adults under 65 be evaluated for the same conditions. The task force urges preventative screening for children and adolescents who don’t have a mental health diagnosis and don’t show symptoms.

Suicide was the second highest cause of death ...