• Childline data reveals there have been nearly 22,000 counselling sessions about mental health and wellbeing since lockdown, including almost 2,000 with 11-year-olds and under

 

• The NSPCC urges Government to prioritise a children’s recovery plan including mental health support, alongside health and the economy

 

• The figures will be explored in full as part of an ITV Tonight programme to broadcast at 19.30 on Thursday 16th July

 

• Edmond Chan, from London, speaks about his experiences counselling young people at Childline through the lockdown

 

 

Childline has seen an increase in young children getting in touch about their mental health and emotional wellbeing, with counselling sessions going up by 37% for 11-year-olds and under compared to before the lockdown.

In association with ITV’s Tonight programme, the NSPCC run service is publishing its latest data which reveals that since the beginning of lockdown there have been nearly 22,000 counselling sessions about mental health concerns. Counselling sessions about this topic peaked in May, when the service delivered 15% more than the pre-lockdown monthly average.

 

The NSPCC grows 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.

 

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.”

 

The number of counselling sessions where children mentioned worries about the world 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.

 

London Childline counsellor Edmond Chan said: “At the Childline London base we have continued to operate fully throughout the pandemic with committed volunteers and staff keeping the service going. The pandemic has been a really challenging time for many young people and we have been hearing from lots children who have been very worried about the health of family members, particularly elderly relatives and parents who are key workers.

“Lots of children have also got in touch due to the challenges posed by schools being closed and many have found it hard completing home learning. As time has gone on and the lockdown is now easing lots children are beginning to speak openly about what the new normal means for them and what they can and can’t do.”

The NSPCC recently joined 150 charities and organisations to call on the Prime Minister and the Chancellor to put children on a par with health and the economy when it comes to recovery. This requires additional investment in support for children’s mental health and wellbeing in schools, as well as a coordinated plan from Government that demonstrates how services will respond to the likely increase in referrals as a result of lockdown.

 

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. 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.”

 

From a young age Hollie, from Dartford, had always suffered with anxiety yet to the outside world she was happy, confident and talkative. But things changed in 2013 after she suffered a panic attack. Within a matter of months her mental health had deteriorated so much she had dropped out of school, isolated herself from her friends and been admitted to hospital. Following a suicide attempt Hollie contacted Childline and spoke to a counsellor about her feelings. It was that chat which stopped her from trying to take her life again when she got off the phone.

 

Over the next couple of years Hollie stopped talking, walking, eating and taking care of herself. There were also more stays in hospital. Yet despite not talking to anyone Hollie, would often call Childline and chat to a counsellor when she was feeling low. She describes the service as her lifeline during her darkest hours.

Hollie said: “If I hadn’t called Childline there is a chance I wouldn’t be here today. In fact, all the progress I have made is thanks to other people’s support, including Childline. Talking to someone saved me and it could save you.”

 

As children continue to struggle with the uncertainty that surrounds them and with many in homes that are unsafe, funding for the NSPCC’s Still Here for Children appeal has never been more important. The charity is asking the public to donate £10 so it can continue to run services like Childline that are providing vital support to children during the pandemic.

 

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 about abuse has increased by around a quarter since lockdown began.

Since the start of the year, Childline has delivered 11,783 counselling sessions related to the Coronavirus. During this time, the service has seen the way that young people get in touch change, including an increase in the number of young people emailing via Childline’s personal inbox.

 

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 battle to still be there for children across the UK.

 

The NSPCC has praised NHS staff for their work with young people remotely during the lockdown and urged children and families to reach out to the GPs for support.

 

Generation Covid: Our Children in Crisis? – Tonight will air on ITV at 19.30 on Thursday 16th July.