Counselling support from Changing Faces

The charity Changing Faces has recently expanded their services for children and young people across the UK.

This now means that any child with a scar, mark or condition that makes them look different will be able to access their life-changing, one-to-one counselling, wellbeing support and group workshops.

New research data, commissioned by Changing Faces, has found that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on children and how they feel about their appearance, with just one in four (25%) feeling confident about how they look, a fall from 39% in 2018.

For children with a visible difference such as a scar, mark or condition, the impact is even greater. Following the pandemic twice as many children with a visible difference say they are unhappy compared to 2019, and they are more likely than their peers to feel anxious about the future (42% versus 30%). 

The research also found that one in three children with a visible difference have had mean comments about how they look and for one in four this has escalated to some form of bullying. 

At Changing Faces, we offer confidential, one-to-one social, emotional and psychological support sessions to people of all ages in the UK with a condition, mark or scar that affects their appearance (a visible difference).

We know that having a visible difference can have an impact on your mental health and wellbeing. We have trained wellbeing practitioners who can provide guidance and support, over a series of sessions, to help you cope with your appearance-related worries and concerns.