More children in Scotland seeking help for anxiety
The number of children and young people in Scotland seeking help for anxiety has increased, according to new data.
The number of children and young people in Scotland seeking help for anxiety has increased, according to new data.
The data released by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) revealed that counselling volunteers in Childline's Glasgow base, saw a rise in the number of counselling sessions delivered about anxiety from 1,337 in 2014/15 to 1,843 in 2015/16.
There was also a 19% increase of sessions reported in Aberdeen to 507 during the same period.
The children's charity reported a 35% rise across the UK in youngsters dealing with the mental health condition over the last year, with episodes being triggered by personal and family problems as well as worldly issues such as the EU Referendum and US election.
The data reveals that 11,706 young people across the UK were counselled by Childline in 2015/16, compared with 8,642 during the previous year.
Children as young as eight have contacted the charity to talk about their fears, with girls seven times more likely to contact Childline - which celebrated its 30th anniversary on Sunday - for help about anxiety than boys, the NSPCC said.
In the last six months, Childline has dealt with around 6,500 people where anxiety was cited as the main issue - an equivalent of 36 per day.
Matt Forde, national head of service for NSPCC Scotland, said: The world can be a worrying place but we need to ensure our children are reassured rather than left overwhelmed and frightened.
It's only natural for children and young people to feel worried sometimes, but when they are plagued by constant fears that are resulting in panic attacks and making them not want to leave the house then they need support.
One of the most important ways to help those that are struggling is to make sure that they know they always have someone to talk to and that they never have to suffer alone, which is why Childline is as important now to children and young people as when it first launched back in 1986.''
The NSPCC has created a new webpage called Worries About the World which gives advice to help support children with anxiety - it has already received almost 5,000 visits.
Children and young people can contact Childline for free, confidential support and advice, 24 hours a day on 0800 1111 or at www.childline.org.uk.