Brave teen’s Childline fund appeal after call saves life

A TEENAGER has revealed her suicide plan came to an end when she picked up the phone to Childline.

Four years on from that vital call, and six years after suffering traumatic sexual abuse, Sarah from Derry is urging others to use the helpline.

And the 18-year-old hopes her story will encourage people to donate money to help expand the NSPCC service.

Sarah, not her real name, explained: “Six years ago I was sexually abused. What happened to me brought on many months of torment with daily self-harm.

“I struggled with an eating disorder and locked myself in my room so my family would never find out my shame, my attempts – all of which I can see now were a response brought on by severe depression and posttraumatic stress.”

TEARS

And she added things changed for her when a close friend made the suggestion to ring Childline.

Sarah said: “For me that first call was a last resort but it saved my life.

“I was in tears. I was 14 and in real pain. Things had got so bad I’d told my friends there was no way I’d see my 16th birthday.

“The counsellor on the phone was amazing.”

Now Sarah is at university and free of self-harm since January 2014. She feels “a million times stronger than I ever thought I would be”.

She added: “If I’d not contacted Childline that day, I’m convinced that I would have gone through with my plan to end my life.

“I’d ask anyone who can help support them to do that and I’d encourage any young person who needs support to call Childline.”

To donate £4 text NSPCC 4 to 70744. To donate £12 text ‘NSPCC 12’ to 70744. To donate £20 text ‘NSPCC 20’ to 70744.

Text costs include your donation of £4, £12 or £20 plus your standard network rate. The NSPCC will receive 100% of your donation.

TOLL OF TROLLS Victims can self-harm as way to cope

ABUSE Sarah was suicidal