ANXIETY is the top mental health concern among children in Wales who have contacted NSPCC Cymru’s helpline, the charity revealed today.

The statistics from phone calls to Childline were released to coincide with Children’s Mental Health Week.

The helpline provided more than 6,600 counselling sessions related to anxiety, both online and over the phone, in just six months — almost a quarter of the total number of counselling sessions.

NSPCC Cymru said that the causes of anxiety included bullying, social and body image concerns as well as political issues, such as the summer riots, climate change and conflicts around the world.

Childline director Shaun Friel said: “It’s deeply concerning that so many children and young people are reaching out to us because they’re struggling with anxiety.” 

Mental health services in Wales are failing to keep up with demand, with waiting times of more than six months for about 2,000 people a month who have moderate or severe mental health conditions.

The Welsh government declined to comment.