Children’s concerns ‘amplified’

Almost 400 children have got in touch with Childline due to coronavirus, with about three quarters of the contacts in the latter three weeks.

The 390 counselling sessions have been held t h roughout Scotland between the end of January, when the first cases of coronavirus were identified in the UK, and April 8.

A large proportion of the sessions have taken place since the Scottish Government announced social distancing rules, the school shutdown and lockdown in close succession.

In more than half of cases, children talked about concerns over their mental or emotional health.

Kat McMahon, a volunteer counsellor at Glasgow’s Childline base, said: “At the moment, young people are contacting us with the same kinds of concerns as they usually do, such as family arguments, sexual abuse and suicidal thoughts, but everything seems amplified.

“On top of their existing anxieties about what it is happening in their lives, they are now struggling with the anxiety around the lockdown and Covid.

“Some have fears about their families catching the virus and many are struggling being away from school and their friends.

“For children living in homes where physical, emotional or sexual abuse is happening – there is now no escape for them.”

To continue to support children during this challenging period, the NSPCC has launched its emergency appeal ‘ We’re still here for children’.

The NSPCC is urging the public to visit its website and donate £10 to help fund vital services like Childline, so the charity can continue to answer calls and be there for the young people who desperately need someone to talk to, especially when home isn’t a safe place.