Depression and anger hits one in three kids

Published on Sunday 18 October 2009 23:10

A THIRD of 11 to16-year-olds say they are upset, depressed, angry or stressed most of the time, an NSPCC poll has revealed.

Girls between the ages of 14 and 16 were most likely to be emotionally distressed, with nearly half, 49 per cent, admitting to feeling sad, depressed, lonely, worried, stressed, scared or angry most of the time.

School is one of the biggest causes of a bad mood among this age group, with 35 per cent saying it makes them sad. Another 36 per cent say sadness is caused by being alone. More than one in four polled, 26 per cent, said they felt "bored" most of the time.

As children get older they begin to turn to friends for help more, with 63 per cent of 11-13 year olds saying they look to their parents for advice, but 52 per cent of 14-16 year olds choosing a friend.

More than one in five children, 22 per cent, say they find it easier to discuss their true feelings online, but almost the same number, 26 per cent, said they would not share their problems on the internet.

The online survey of 1,200 children was conducted as part of the charity's new campaign to reach out to more children online.

A website for Childline now offers a place where children can play, talk about their feelings on a message board or with a counsellor and contact the service about their worries.

They can use various tools to express their feelings from poems to pictures and emoticon-type "moodies", they can also watch videos, make badges or play games.

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. But the scale of childhood distress in this poll is revealing."