There are around 900,000 young people under the age of 19 in the UK with bowel and bladder problems, equating to one in 12 of this age group (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence [NICE], 2010). These problems, which include daytime wetting, nighttime wetting, constipation and soiling, can have significant impacts on the emotional wellbeing of sufferers, with those affected — both young people and their parents or carers — reporting feelings of shame, embarrassment and fear of being found out’. This in turn can lead to low self-esteem, isolation, anxiety, and in some cases depression.
