The Mental Health Foundation has found that children are anxious about global events
Worries over Donald Trump’s presidency and nuclear war are keeping Scots children awake at night.
New research by the Mental Health Foundation has shown that youngsters are anxious about issues such as terrorism, global warming and nuclear war.
The charity is warning that young people are being exposed to shocking and potentially unsettling news more than ever before in the digital age, and this may be contributing to increased anxiety and mental ill health.
In response, the foundation has published a guide on how to speak to our children about unsettling world events.
Child psychology expert Dr Camilla Rosan of the Mental Health Foundation said that it is harder than ever to shield children from worrying news.
She said: "It's important for example to let children know the facts of any given event but also to put things into perspective and let them know they are safe. Anxiety about scary news events is normal, but not something children have to deal with alone.
"Parents can really help tackle problems early and support good mental health for their children by talking about these issues in an open and honest way. This lets them know that it's okay to talk about scary or tricky subjects, and hopefully, will give them the confidence to talk about things that might be playing on their mind at other times too."
Research by the charity – conducted with parents of youngsters aged between five and 18 – has revealed that 42% of those questioned felt their children had become more anxious about world events.
More than a third of youngsters (36%) were anxious about Donald Trump’s presidency, whilst 37% were concerned about the threat of terrorism.
In terms of signs parents are noticing, of those whose children were anxious, six in ten have noticed their children starting to ask a lot more questions, a quarter had noticed their children seeking reassurance, and 13% reported that their children have gone as far as asking to avoid activities such using public transport or going to busy public places.
