Trauma of children 11
Calls to Childline soar by 37% during lockdown
LOCKDOWN has led to a surge in youngsters seeking help over mental health concerns.
The NSPCC reported a 37% rise in calls from children aged 11 and under, with almost 2,000 turning to its Childline service in desperation.
One eight-year-old girl told them: “I live with just my mum in a tiny flat. I’m always fighting with my mum. After we’ve had a fight I hurt myself because I feel like I’m not good enough.”
The charity has offered a total of 22,000 counselling sessions so far during the pandemic, almost a tenth of them for under-12s.
The NSPCC says the figures – compiled for ITV’s Tonight programme – show children are the virus’s hidden victims.
Young people have told counsellors the lockdown has put a strain on family relationships, increased
tensions between parents and caused a rise in arguments. The number of counselling sessions over abuse is up by around a quarter.
The NSPCC has joined 150 other charities urging the Government to put children on a par with health and the economy when it comes to