More children with serious problems contacting ChildLine online

ChildLine
Photograph by Jon Challicom, image posed by model

As ChildLine celebrates its 25th birthday new figures show that the number of ChildLine contacts from children troubled by suicide, depression and self-harm has significantly increased since the introduction of its online service.

In 2010-11, the first full year in which the online service was available, counsellors dealt with over 30,000 online and phone enquiries combined on these three issues. Of these, around 19,000 were online and 11,000 on the telephone. This compares to the previous year where counsellors dealt with around 10,000 phone enquiries on the same issues.

For the same period (2010/11) the Manchester ChildLine base in the city centre counselled 3,323 children about depression, self harm and suicide. Of these 2,467 contacts were online and 856 were over the phone. This compares to the previous year where counsellors dealt with 695 phone enquiries on the same issues.

These latest statistics from the 24-hour free service show that overall children in the UK are nearly three times more likely to discuss self-harm via e-mail or online one to one ‘chat’ sessions than on the phone. And last year, more than 60 per cent of all counselling about suicide, depression and mental health issues took place online.

These three problems are now among the main reasons for children to seek online help from a ChildLine counsellor. But they do not feature in the top ten calls.

Christine Mellor, ChildLine area manager for the North West said: “Most children who contact us online are deeply troubled. It’s not yet clear if more children are suffering mental health problems, or if they simply find it easier to discuss them online.

“In many cases they will be struggling to cope with inner feelings they can’t control or understand. Others tell counsellors how they hurt themselves in an attempt to alleviate their pain. Sadly, for some, those feelings become so overwhelming they see no other option but to give up on life.

“By developing our online service we can reach out to more of these very troubled children who are struggling to cope with complex problems that are blighting their lives, and may not have contacted us without this new service.”