Issues such as cyber-bullying and relationship problems are worrying youngsters, with girls making up 88% of those who contact Childline about anxiety
The pressures of modern-day life are leaving many children and teenagers feeling overwhelmed and leading to a sharp rise in the number seeking help for anxiety.
Over the past year, Childline delivered 21,297 counselling sessions to young people from across the UK trying to deal with feelings of anxiety – almost double that of two years ago.
There was also a rise in the number of counselling sessions provided to children living in Scotland who contacted Childline about anxiety. In 2017/18, 971 counselling sessions were given to young people in Scotland, up from 715 in 2016/17 and 651 the previous year.
Volunteers at the Aberdeen Childline base dealt with 1,120 contacts from young people from across the UK over anxiety, compared with 552 the previous year. The Glasgow base also saw a significant increase with 3,330 contacts relating to anxiety compared with 2,367 the previous year.
Across the UK at least 88% of the support provided by Childline for this issue was given to girls, reinforcing how they are struggling to cope with growing up.
Children and teenagers cite a range of reasons why they may be feeling anxious including bullying and cyber-bullying, eating problems, relationship problems and issues at school with homework and exams.
Some also experienced anxiety alongside other mental health issues such as depression and obsessive compulsive disorder, while others reported having suffered abuse, neglect or bereavement.
Esther Rantzen, Childline founder and president, said: “I am increasingly concerned at the huge rise in anxiety affecting our young people. It seems that the support they desperately need from family, friends, their schools or mental health professionals is either not there when they need it, or is failing them.
“Fortunately Childline is here to comfort and support them. But we must ask why for some young people is the world becoming such a difficult place? Unless we find effective answers to this question we know the anxieties they suffer from can get worse, leading to suicidal thoughts or chronic mental health problems as they get older.”
Jayne Laidlaw, Childline manager for the Glasgow base, added: “Anxiety can be crippling and it is deeply worrying that the number of counselling sessions we are delivering for this issue is rising so quickly. Increasingly Childline is filling the gap left by our public mental health services, providing young people with a place they can go for round the clock help and advice.”
