Australian children worry extensively about future

Many Australia children worry about their families and future, but many choose not to seek help about their anxieties, according to a national survey released on Monday.

Data compiled by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) revealed that almost half of the 20,000 children surveyed worried about their future all or most of the time while more than a third constantly worried about their families, their health and their body image.

Child psychologist Kirrilie Smout told the ABC on Monday that children worried about similar things to adults, but are often just told "not to worry" instead of being encouraged to get help.

"Just like adults, children have worries and fears, and they also have times when they feel okay and times when they feel happy, " Smout said.

"What we want to (tell children) is that it's normal to worry, we all worry, but some people unfortunately worry more than others. "

The survey also revealed that 30 percent of school-aged children worry about bullying, with two in three children above the age experiencing bullying at one or more times during their childhood.

Smout said it was concerning that one in five children revealed they would not speak to anyone about their concerns or anxieties, however almost of half of respondents said they would confide in their parents when it came to problems at school or at home.

Just two percent of children said they would use a support line or a counseling service, and Dr. Richard O'Kearney told the ABC that kids often feel embarrassed about their problems, and are less likely to seek help because they feel others might judge them.

"That's one of the things that gets in the way of disclosure, fear of what other people think about me if I tell them of my concerns," he said on Monday.

The survey also found that only one in 10 children feel worried all or most of the time at nine years of age, but the number almost quadruples by age 16, with 38 percent of children worrying during their mid-teens.

The survey coincides with Mental Health Week in Australia, which aims to raise awareness of often-overlooked diseases such as anxiety and depression.
  Xinhua - china.org.cn
5/10/15