ChildLine volunteers will spend New Year helping youngsters in distress
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CHILDLINE volunteers will be on duty over the New Year holiday period to ensure North children who have problems have someone to turn to.
Over the 12 days of Christmas last year, from December 24 to January 5, ChildLine volunteers in Scotland handled 1399 counselling sessions with children and young people. Children across the UK contacted ChildLine 2373 times for in-depth online or telephone counselling on Christmas Day alone.
Family relationship problems, bullying and sexual abuse were the most common reasons for children to contact ChildLine over the Christmas holidays last year. Nearly one in six counselling sessions (13 per cent) were about depression, self harm or suicide.
Last year, the number of children contacting the 24-hour service about suicide over Christmas and New Year rose above the average for the year with around 23 e-mails, phone calls and online chats a day from children who were feeling suicidal over the festive season.
Director of ChildLine Peter Liver said the volunteers are a vital lifeline for children who feel they have nowhere else to turn.
“On New Year’s Eve, when most people are heading out for a night on the town, ChildLine volunteers will be taking calls and messages from children who need someone to talk to. We couldn’t keep ChildLine open for children without their amazing commitment and dedication,” he said.
“While Christmas and New Year can be a time of celebration, for some young people the festivities can make their problems feel even more distressing.”
Children can speak to a counsellor online at childline.org.uk or by telephone on 0800 1111.
