Brexit and the U.S. election are making British children anxious

LONDON -- The number of children and young people in the UK seeking help for anxiety has risen dramatically, with many citing concerns about world affairs as the cause.

According to the UK's leading children's charity NSPCC, there has been a 35 percent increase in anxiety in the past year and children as young as eight have contacted the charity to discuss their fears and worries.

During the past six months, the NSPCC's Childline helpline has received approximately 6,500 calls -- which equates to 36 per day -- in which anxiety was named as the main problem. The charity revealed that children and young people have said that world affairs such as the EU referendum, the US presidential election and troubles in the Middle East are reasons for their anxiety.

"Things I see on the news are worrying me; things like the EU referendum and the US election, it makes me worry about my future and how things are going to change," one teenage girl told counsellors.

"My anxiety is becoming worse after the terrorist attacks in Paris. I’m really worried something like that could happen in London too," one girl (age unknown) said.

In response to the growing number of children and young people concerned about political issues, the charity created a microsite on its Childline website in September, which has received almost 5,000 visits.

The site addresses concerns pertaining to extremism, terrorism and radicalisation; attacks and bombings; in addition to bullying and mistreatment.

"Seeing pictures of crying and bewildered toddlers being pulled from bomb-damaged homes upsets all of us, Dame Esther Rantzen -- president of Childline -- said in a statement emailed to Mashable. "At Childline we know children and young people are sometimes frightened and distressed by events in the wider world," Rantzen continued.