Jump in children feeling suicidal

The number of counselling sessions to help Scots children deal with suicidal thoughts has increased by almost a fifth over the past year, the NSPCC has reported. The charity’s phone service, Childline, provided 1,095 sessions in 2016-17, a 17 per cent rise on 2015-16.

Elaine Chalmers, head of helplines for Childline in Scotland, said: “We must face the painful reality that many young people across Scotland and the UK feel so overwhelmed by their problems they have considered taking their own, precious lives.”