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Childline: ‘Increase in children reaching out with mental health concerns’

Childline data reveals there have been 373 counselling sessions about mental health and wellbeing with children in Northern Ireland since lockdown.

 

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Childline has seen an increase of more than 25 per cent in young children in Northern Ireland getting in touch about their mental health and emotional wellbeing during the lockdown.

The NSPCC-run service is publishing its latest data which reveals that since the beginning of lockdown there have been 373 counselling sessions carried out with children in Northern Ireland about mental health concerns.

 

 

This is a monthly average of 124 sessions compared with 99 prior to lockdown.

NSPCC Northern Ireland is growing increasingly concerned that children are the hidden victims of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, with Childline providing a vital lifeline to children whose counselling sessions have shown that mental health is their top concern.

Throughout the pandemic young people have told counsellors they are feeling low, unhappy, overwhelmed and more recently talked about the anxiety they feel as we look to come out of lockdown.

Some children talked to Childline about family relationships, sharing that arguments, increased parental stress levels and abusive home environments are impacting their mental health.

 

 

Worryingly, the average number of counselling sessions with children across the UK about abuse has increased by around a quarter since lockdown began.

Also, UK-wide, the number of counselling sessions with 11-year-olds and younger has increased by 37% compared to before the lockdown.

An eight year-old girl told Childline, “I am feeling sad and worried. I am scared of Covid-19 and feel like my family don’t care about me.

“I don’t get any attention and am always fighting with my mum. I live with just my mum and don’t see dad much.

“We live in a tiny flat and sometimes we get so angry with each other we end up fighting.

 

 

“After we have had a fight I hurt myself because I feel like I am not good enough,” she added.

The number of counselling sessions where children mentioned worries about the world have more than doubled compared to before lockdown and the easing of lockdown has increased anxiety levels for some young people.

They have shared concerns about returning to school, catching the virus, classwork, exams and how school life will be now.

The NSPCC is calling on the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure that its Coronavirus recovery plan prioritises the needs of children and young people.

This should include plans to provide adequate and appropriate support in both education and health, with a particular emphasis on the identification of vulnerability and trauma and meeting children’s needs.


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This should include increased investment in children’s emotional and mental well-being in schools and child and adolescent mental health support for children and young people required as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mairead Monds, head of Childline Belfast, said, “There is no doubt that the Coronavirus pandemic has had a direct impact on the mental health of many of our children and young people in Northern Ireland.

“It is vital that Childline can continue to be there to help support young people to cope and recover from the aftermath of this crisis.

“We also need to see this backed up by an ambitious recovery plan that ensures children can access the vital services they need to begin to move forwards,” she adds.

Esther Rantzen, Founder of Childline said, “The Coronavirus pandemic has turned children’s lives upside down, cutting them off from the places they have relied upon in the past for comfort and support.

“During lockdown, the virus has imprisoned them in homes which may not be safe, with emotional and physical abuse, violence, or neglect.

“This has meant many young people have turned to Childline as their only lifeline, and have shared with us that they are unable to cope, and are desperate for help.


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“We know that by providing children with a safe, confidential way to share their anxiety, as well as timely support so they can describe their feelings, we can help to prevent their problems totally overwhelming them. 

“At Childline, we have always provided a vital listening ear for our young people who know we are there for them, and our website offers practical help to calm and reassure them.

“But as lockdown eases, and as life continues to feel uncertain and challenging, it is essential that in addition to Childline our children have access to the mental health resources they will need to help them cope,” she adds.

Despite Childline having to close the night service for the first time and having a 30% drop in volunteer hours, due to counsellors having to self-isolate, it continues to still be there for children across the UK.

Adults concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC helpline seven days a week on 0808 800 5000, or email help@nspcc.org.uk.

Children can call Childline on 0800 11 11 or visit www.childline.org.uk 365 days of the year.

 

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Posted by on Jul 20 2020. Filed under Community. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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