Number of young seeking help over anxiety rises

The NSPCC has highlighted that the number of young people in the UK seeking help for anxiety has increased by 35 per cent.

The Childline counselled 11,706 young people for anxiety in 2015-16.

It warned that children as young as eight had contacted the charity, and cited girls as being seven times more likely to make contact than boys.

The charity outlined some of the problems ranged from issues in youngsters’ day-to-day life to seeing disturbing events in the media and online.

Dame Esther Rantzen, who launched Childline, said: "Seeing pictures of crying and bewildered toddlers being pulled from bomb-damaged homes upsets all of us.

"Often we fail to notice the impact these stories are having on young people."

"The good news is that so many children are able to express their anxiety to Childline, knowing that we will take them seriously, so that we are able to reassure them."

Peter Wanless, chief executive of the NSPCC which formally joined forces with Childline in 2006, 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."