Child counselling referrals for mental health issues double in Dorset
The Family Counselling Trust in Dorset are offering support
Child counselling referrals for those suffering with mental health issues in Dorset have doubled since the start of the pandemic.
Greatest Hits Radio Dorset has spoken to Doctor Alison Sankey from the Family Counselling Trust about why this is the case and what parents can do if they see their child struggling.
She says the young people being referred have been more exposed to traumatic situations because of lockdowns or being sent home from school because of Covid cases.
“Children are often experiencing these much more intensely because they have been stuck at home, particularly where they may be domestic abuse or substance abuse. They are seeing stuff that they may have been aware of but perhaps not so exposed to before.”
Dr Sankey said anxiety manifests itself in many ways and can lead to tension and family breakdowns.
“It can lead to not eating, not sleeping, lost confidence in social situations, difficulty in making friends, fears about going to school and fear about what is happening at home,
“ You also see meltdowns and aggression in younger children. It is very common to see aggression displayed as a form of anxiety because they can’t actually recognise they are anxious.”
The charity, which has four branches covering Wiltshire, Hampshire, Somerset and Dorset and was recently visited by Wiltshire High Sheriff Sir Charles Hobhouse, assesses each referral and connects the child with a suitable therapist in their area.
“The therapist will work on fairly limited but reachable goals in helping the child recognise what they feel when they become anxious and then begin to teach them what they can do to manage those feelings, using skills of relaxation, meditation or mindfulness or whatever it is that can help them.
“We also work with the family to teach them how to manage their own anxiety and work with all of them to help the child move forward. That may be with art therapy, cognitive therapy or family therapy.”
The majority of children the trust sees are aged between 11 and 12. Dr Sankey said it is important to tackle issues early. "If you don’t address these problems in children early they continue into adolescence and adulthood,
“The vast majority of more serious mental health problems begin in adolescence and if you can treat them before that it makes a massive difference.”
You can find out more about their services here.