Illinois women, infants and children experienced growing behavioral health and anxiety issues even before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report from the United Health Foundation.

Dr. Rhonda Randall, executive vice president and chief medical officer of UnitedHealthcare, said that nationally, anxiety in children between the ages of three to 17 went up 21 percent between 2017-2018 and 2019-2020.

The report collected data leading up to and in the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic.