A DUMBARTON counsellor has claimed there is ‘no surprise’ that there has been a national rise in counselling sessions for children struggling with eating problems.

According to shocking new figures released by the NSPCC last week, the charity Childline has seen a 22 per cent rise in their counselling sessions about eating disorders and eating problems since 2016/17.

In the last year alone, Childline carried out 231 counselling sessions with children from Scotland relating to these issues.

Arlyn Bolton, of the A. Bolton Counselling service, counsels young people in and around Dumbarton, and says many of the clients she sees have experienced some form of eating disorder.

She told the Reporter: “I’m not surprised by the rise in telephone counselling sessions for eating disorders. Perhaps as a society we are becoming more aware of services that can support us and how to access them.

“I have certainly seen a shift in the range of client seeking counselling, with younger clients and more males presenting for help, however it is predominantly females that seek help for a negative body image, with ages varying greatly.”

In Arlyn’s view, the mental strain on young people today is heightened by social media and celebrity culture.

“The pressure young people and others face today is exacerbated by social media and the fake Hollywood appearance that is photoshopped and left manipulating our perceptions of what reality is,” she added.

“This then enforces a peer-led culture that people feel compelled to keep up with.”

And she claimed therapies in the Dumbarton area are “extremely limited”.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said that they have seen an increase in referrals for eating disorders, in keeping with reported increased referrals across child and adult mental health services in – and urged anyone struggling to seek help from family, friends and their GP.

A spokesman said: “Many young people appear to be struggling more than ever with the demands placed on them, both academically and socially.”