Taken from: http://www.herald.ie/national-news/tenyearolds-suffering-from-anxiety-and-stress-1433372.html


Irish children as young as 10 are suffering from stress and anxiety.

According to child psychologist Kate Byrne, the two issues "are more prevalent than ever before", with an increasing number of children dealing with extreme unhappiness and depression.

The rise is partly attributed to premature sexualisation and materialism, with pressures relating to body image and "must-have" items such as clothes, ipods and phones.

Ms Byrne, who runs the Irish branch of Attachment Parenting, explained: "Children today are really stuck between childhood and adulthood and it's extremely difficult in that age group.

"A 10-year-old today is as advanced as a 13-year-old a decade ago. They have far more knowledge about things that you wouldn't think a child of that age should know.

"Their perception on life is different and they're very observant about what's going on around them. They are very much ahead of themselves.

"Television is having a huge influence on them and as a result their perception on life is different. Peer pressure is there too, but it's there with or without mobile phones."

Last month in Britain, two young boys were admitted to mental health clinics suffering from an addiction to their mobile phones.

The boys, aged 12 and 13, were spending up to six hours a day chatting, sending texts, playing games and taking pictures on their phones, and were found to be unable to carry out normal activities without their mobiles.

One had even deceived his grandmother into giving him money for his habit.

However, despite this worrying trend, Irish psychologists have yet to see a similar case here.

While behavioural problems associated with mobile phones are increasing, repetitive strain injury is still the most common complaint among children with a fondness for sending text messages.

Ms Byrne, a mother of seven, explained: "We have seen some problems with kids always using their mobile phones, but it's certainly not as widespread as in the UK.

We often hear children complaining when their phones are taken off them by their parents.

"They would probably prefer a far more savage punishment than to have to do without their phones!"

She added: "My 11-year-old is not allowed a mobile phone. I don't feel that he has a need for one."