Jake: I didn’t have anyone to talk to, but Childline helped me
Childline has helped millions of children across the UK since it was founded in 1986, with counsellors available 24/7 to offer support and a listening ear to young people, no matter what they are going through.
Jake, who is now 22, contacted Childline through the website and over the phone from the age of 12. Experiencing bullying from an early age and struggling with his mental health throughout his childhood, Jake reached out to Childline in his darkest moments.
Jake, from Kent, who grew up living with his grandparents, said his autism meant he often felt like he “wasn’t normal” and he was bullied at primary school.
“It was mostly name-calling and excluding me, trying to keep a massive distance away from me unless they wanted to call me a name or something,” he said.
“I didn’t really like sports and you had to like sports and football. If you didn’t do whatever everyone else was doing, you got bullied. I had a few friends but not if they were with other friends. People would talk to me when they had no one else. I hated it.”
When he was 12 years old, he realised he wanted to find out more about his mother, who he had never known. Eventually, they spoke over the phone and emails, but “contact just fizzled out”.
He started using the Childline website, initially emailing about the bullying and his mum, and then used one-to-one chat, talking about his mental health and how he felt suicidal.
Jake said: “I didn’t have anyone else to talk to. The email replies would ask me questions which kept the conversation going and it meant I could talk and express things.
“I was at a stage with my autism where I couldn’t start a conversation. Their questions allowed me to get the stuff I needed to get out, out.
“I always advise people to call Childline. It’s a service that helps. I really trust the counsellors. I normally had about an hour talking with them and that was what was needed. I didn’t really have anyone or a reason or anything before that, but talking to Childline really helped.”