NSPCC: Third of children feel distressed
Third of children feel emotional stress 'most of the time' NSPCC says
Also In The News
|
By Darren Estwick. |  |
Monday, 19, Oct 2009 12:35
By Sarah Garrod
One in three children feels some emotional distress most of the time, an NSPCC poll has revealed.
The charity has today launched a new online Childline service for vulnerable children, and has coincided the launch with its results from a recent poll.
The poll found 32 per cent of 11 to 16-year-olds said they felt sad, depressed, lonely, worried, stressed, scared or angry most of the time. The proportion increased to almost half for girls aged 14 to 16, with only one in five of those children surveyed saying they felt mostly secure.
NSPCC chief executive Andrew Flanagan said: "While many children are generally happy, others are deeply troubled and desperate for help. As we know, teenage years can be notoriously stressful for young people and the lucky ones have friends or parents to help them through their problems. But the scale of childhood distress in this poll is revealing."
Today the NSPCC launches How u feelin?, a drive to reach out to more children online. Children can use the site to email ChildLine about their worries, chat to a ChildLine counsellor online, and support each other on a message board. They can also explore issues like domestic violence, gangs or bullying.
More than one in five children surveyed by the NSPCC said they find it easier to discuss their true feelings online.