ASK THE EXPERT

7:00am Saturday 3rd May 2008

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Q: "My kids frequently seem anxious and stressed, yet I don't remember feeling like that as a child. What are the causes of all this stress and what can I do to help my children through it?"

A: Penny Nicholls, director of Children and Young People at The Children's Society, says: "Lots of parents feel the same way - only one in 10 adults responding to a survey for our Good Childhood Inquiry felt that children nowadays are happier than they were as children. Parents and professionals have told our inquiry how concerned they are about children's mental health and well-being.

"Even more worryingly, children themselves have told us that stress, worry and anxiety are major factors preventing them from enjoying life, and 27 per cent of young people agreed with the statement, 'I often feel depressed'.

"There are lots of possible explanations for this but some of the things mentioned by children are pressure at school, bullying, and peer pressure. The world children are growing up in seems to be placing more and more demands on them - the number of tests children have to do at school from a young age is just one example.

"How can we help our children feel better? Submissions to our inquiry from professionals highlighted the importance of strong relationships with their family and friends, which help children to feel supported and to develop ways of dealing with the stresses of daily life. Strengthening children's self-esteem and their sense of purpose were also highlighted as key ways to help children enjoy a positive sense of wellbeing.

"Many children do need more support however. Around one in 10 children has a clinically diagnosable disorder (such as anxiety or depression) which may need treatment. If you have any concerns, contact your GP for advice."