Charity reveals top mental health concern for children in Scotland

A CHARITY has revealed the main reason children in Scotland get in contact with Childline.

The NSPCC – which runs the Childline service – said anxiety was the top mental health concern for children in Scotland.

Childline is a free service provided by children’s charity NSPCC, offering a safe, confidential place for children to turn to whenever they need help. The service has a base in Glasgow.

The Childline service in Glasgow Between April and September last year, Childline delivered a total of 1130 sessions on mental health to children known to be from Scotland, 276 of which were to do with anxiety.

This represents almost a quarter (24%) of all counselling sessions Childline carried out to do with mental health and wellbeing.

The charity said the top causes of anxiety among its service users included bullying, social and political reasons – such as climate change, the UK riots and world conflicts – and body image issues.

Childline is available 24/7 to provide help and support via the phone on 0800 1111 and online through the 1-2-1 chat on the Childline website at childline.org.uk.

One girl, aged 11, told Childline: “I’m so self-conscious of how I look, my personality, what people think about me. It makes me feel anxious. I know everyone is different, but I feel different in a bad way.”

The figures come as the charity marks Children’s Mental Health Week, which takes place between February 3 and 9.

The week has been organised by children’s mental health charity Place2Be, which hopes to empower young children to grow and develop resilience to cope with what life throws at them.

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Shaun Friel, director of Childline, said: “It’s deeply concerning that so many children and young people are reaching out to us because they’re struggling with anxiety. We know how overwhelming these feelings can be, often leaving young people feeling trapped and unsure where to turn.

“From worries about school and bullying to the pressures of body image and fears about the future, young people are facing a range of challenges that can seriously impact their mental health and wellbeing.

“This Children’s Mental Health Week, we want every child to know that they are not alone. Childline is here to provide a safe, confidential space to talk about whatever is worrying them – at any time of the day or night.”

The charity offered some advice to children who are experiencing anxiety. This includes practising deep breathing, engaging in physical activity, trying out grounding techniques to stay present, challenging negative thoughts and to reach out to others for support.

It also encouraged parents to communicate openly with children about their feelings, as well as promoting healthy routines and coping mechanisms.

Childline is available 24/7 to provide help and support via the phone on 0800 1111 and online through the 1-2-1 chat on the Childline website at childline.org.uk.