Name: When Worry Becomes More: Understanding Anxiety in Today’s Youth
Start: 2026-03-05T18:00:00-08:00
Location: Maury Young Arts Centre

$When Worry Becomes More: Understanding Anxiety in Today\u2019s Youth$

Life transitions, social pressures, and the digital world can make worry a daily experience for children and teens. But how do we know when anxiety is a normal part of growing up—and when it’s a signal to reach out for help?
Join Dr. Kimberley Da Silva, leading North Vancouver psychologist, and Dr. Juliana Negreiros, Registered Psychologist, Founder of Beacon Psychology in Port Moody, and co-developer of the EASE (Everyday Anxiety Strategies for Educators) program, for an engaging and practical conversation on understanding and supporting anxiety in young people.
Drawing on years of experience working with schools, families, PAC groups, and professional development audiences, Dr. Da Silva will explore the spectrum of anxiety, the difference between everyday stress and anxiety disorders, and practical, evidence-based ways to support children and teens. She will also address how social media and modern pressures can amplify worry and provide guidance on when intervention is warranted.
Dr. Negreiros will lead a focused discussion on how anxiety is currently supported within British Columbia schools, offering insight into school-based practices and how educational and clinical approaches can work together to better support students.
This accessible session is for anyone supporting ages 10–100 who wants clarity, confidence, and actionable strategies for navigating life’s anxious moments.
About the Speakers:
Dr. Kimberley Da Silva, Registered Psychologist, North Shore Anxiety Clinic
Dr. Kimberley Da Silva is a Registered Psychologist specializing in the treatment of children, adolescents, and their families. Her practice focuses on teaching effective coping skills, addressing emotional and behavioural challenges, and enhancing family functioning. Dr. Da Silva collaborates with young clients and their parents to foster healthier relationships and build resilience in the face of life’s challenges.
Dr. Juliana Negreiros, Phd, Registered Psychologist, Founder of Beacon Anxiety Clinic
Dr. Juliana Negreiros is a registered psychologist and founder of Beacon Psychology Clinic in Port Moody, specializing in supporting children and adolescents with anxiety and OCD in collaboration with families and schools. She spent nearly a decade with the B.C. Children’s Hospital Provincial OCD Program, where she co-led group therapy, conducted research, and completed a three-year postdoctoral fellowship focused on helping students with OCD succeed in school. Driven by a commitment to bridging mental health and education, she co-developed the Everyday Anxiety Strategies for Educators (EASE) curriculum, an evidence-informed program used by teachers across British Columbia. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Negreiros delivers parent workshops and educator training, contributes to podcasts and academic publications, presents at national and international conferences, and is the author of a self-help book for teens focused on building confidence and resilience in the face of uncertainty.
The Global Perspectives Speaker Series (GPSS) is produced by one of the Whistler Institute’s working committees. Topics are selected based on a blend of community input, contemporary global conversations, and access to speakers. These evening events focus on the world’s greatest challenges, elevating leading experts and game changers to share bold ideas, new perspectives, and disruptive concepts that have the potential to create positive change in the world today and into the future.
About the Whistler Institute
The Whistler Institute is a registered charity funded through private donors, foundations, government grants, and fees for service. We facilitate and promote place-based learning opportunities, and our mission is to influence change and inspire minds through education and thought leadership. The Whistler Institute gratefully and respectfully acknowledges that we operate on the land now known as Whistler, located on the shared, unceded territories of the Sk̲wx̲wú7mesh Nation and Líl̓wat Nation.