The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted mental health, leading to a 25% increase in anxiety and depression rates globally, with referrals for children's mental health services more than doubling since before the pandemic.

In the aftermath of the pandemic, approximately 500 children are being referred daily for mental health support, highlighting the urgent need for effective interventions.

Despite the prevalence of anxiety disorders, which are the most common mental health issue worldwide, only about 28% of affected individuals in the UK and 37% in the US receive treatment, indicating a substantial treatment gap.

Factors contributing to these low treatment rates include insufficient mental health resources and the stigma surrounding mental illness, which hinder access to care.

Anxiety often coexists with other mental health conditions, such as depression, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorder, complicating treatment approaches.

Recent research has found a link between impulsivity in anxious children and higher rates of suicidal thoughts and depression, suggesting that tailored treatments are necessary.

Anxiety typically begins in childhood and can persist into adulthood, exacerbated by environmental stressors like academic pressure, financial instability, and social isolation.

Childhood maltreatment has been shown to alter brain connectivity related to emotion processing, contributing to the development of anxiety disorders.

Symptoms of anxiety can manifest in various forms, including cognitive issues like difficulty concentrating, emotional disturbances such as irritability, and physiological reactions like heart palpitations and panic attacks.

Innovative neurotechnology solutions are emerging to address anxiety management, including devices for paced breathing and mild electrical stimulation to help regulate mood.

Devices aimed at promoting physiological synchrony, like those developed by LYEONS Neurotech, seek to enhance emotional connections and reduce anxiety symptoms.

Technological advancements, including platforms like Headspace and ieso for meditation and cognitive behavioral therapy, as well as virtual reality tools for exposure therapy, are being explored to improve anxiety treatment.