Anxiety UK offers help and advice for young people's phobias

[Yankee_Doodle]

The country’s leading anxiety disorders charity, Anxiety UK, is encouraging parents to seek advice after a poll carried out by ITV’s This Morning and parenting website Netmums revealed a lack of awareness of “school phobia”.

The results also showed that one in five children suffer from the condition, over a third of children with school phobia refused to leave the house on school mornings, and one-in-four would not walk through the school gates.

Anxiety UK CEO Nicky Lidbetter said: “These startling figures confirm our own findings while revealing the depth of the problem and the lack of awareness of where parents can turn to for help.

“Anxiety is a condition that can affect anyone – it doesn’t distinguish between age, background or social group. That is why Anxiety UK’s Stressed Out project is designed to specifically support young people who are experiencing anxiety and stress.”

Cameron Twynham, a 17-year old aspiring racing driver and a young ambassador for Anxiety UK added: “I have suffered from anxiety for more than 2 ½ years now and made my parents sit with me in the car outside school for several months until I learned to manage my condition.

“It is very hard for them to know where to turn to, I know my Mum and Dad were initially totally unaware of how to address my anxiety and so many others we have spoken to since don’t realise what they are going through.

“The guidance available from Anxiety UK is certainly a good place to start.”

For more details about the Stressed Out project and other advice visit anxietyuk.org.uk/about-anxi...