It is widely documented that children have suffered from anxiety throughout the pandemic. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, the incidence of clinically significant anxiety for this population was approximately 11.6% prior to the pandemic. It’s now estimated that cases of adolescent anxiety have doubled, with some sources stating it is as high as 63.8%. Never before in the modern era have young people shouldered such an avalanche of devastation, uncertainty, and complicated feelings all generated by the pandemic: catastrophic illnesses, the loss of a loved one, prolonged disruptions from routines, social isolation, remote learning, relatives losing employment, and the threat of eviction. The pandemic brought many changes for teens without time for them to process or develop the tools needed to navigate them. This presentation will discuss interventions: improve coping mechanisms, provide opportunities for communication, including teens in decision making when possible - give them a sense of control, set routines, provide structure, develop peer support to stay connected, and monitor social media. Symptoms of anxiety vary greatly, especially among teens. Screening for anxiety is key. Presenter: Brenda Allgood, MSN, CPNP Nonpublic School Nurse Program Coordinator Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative Monday December 5, 2022 6:30pm via Zoom A brief Q&A session will follow the presentation. The program will be about one hour long. Open to Diocese of Camden Parish Nurses Registration is Required - contact Nicole Keefer by 12/2/22 to register This presentation is sponsored by VITALity Catholic Healthcare Services Parish Nurse Ministry.