CHILDREN’S TERROR FEARS REVEALED IN CALLS TO HELPLINE
C HILDREN as young as nine have been left “petrified” that Britain could be hit by a terror attack, a leading charity has warned.
Exactly a year after the atrocity at the Bataclan in Paris, Childline is still handling hundreds of counselling sessions for youngsters suffering from panic attacks, anxiety and insomnia.
The information showed children as young as nine fearing outbreaks of war and attacks on British soil.
Since November 2015 counsellors at the Cardiff and Prestatyn branches of the NSPCC’s roundthe-clock service have handled 71 contacts from children about ter- rorism. The charity said young people were “acutely” aware of the atrocities worldwide, talking to counsellors about Middle Eastern conflicts and often mentioning Islamic State.
The number of calls dealt with by counsellors in Wales were part of a total of 660 counselling sessions across the UK about terrorism, with children complaining of nightmares about attacks.
According to the charity many feared the outbreak of war and often told Childline they were scared their families could be hurt.
One in five of the contacts were young people aged 11 or younger and the charity said girls were twice as likely as boys to contact the service, with 12 to 15-year-olds most likely to speak to the counsellors.
One boy, aged 11, said: “I’m so scared at the moment with everything going on. I constantly feel anxious about terrorism and think that Isis is going to attack the UK soon. I am really worried that they will get someone in my family. I haven’t been sleeping because it is all I can think about.”
A 14-year-old girl said: “My anxiety is becoming worse after the terrorist attacks. I’m really worried something like this could happen in London. I tried talking to my parents about it but they said I was over-thinking things.
“I feel as if I’m always on the edge when I leave the house and am always looking over my shoulder.”
The charity said it had seen “spikes” following terror attacks, including the atrocities that have happened in Brussels, Orlando, Nice and Munich, since last November’s attacks on the French capital.
This is the first year the NSPCC has recorded information about children’s reaction to terrorism following the Paris atrocities, when a total of 130 people were killed and more than 350 injured in seven coordinated attacks.
Des Mannion, head of NSPCC Cymru, said: “These vicious attacks have seared themselves into the consciousness of children who tell us how petrified they are of these sadistic atrocities happening on UK shores. It is vital that we do not brush young peoples’ fears aside. Instead we must listen to their worries and reassure them that there are people doing everything they can to keep us all safe.”
The NSPCC’s helpline advises parents on how to talk to their children about terrorism and trained counsellors recommend letting children know they can talk openly to their parents or guardians.
The service also said parents can help by avoiding complicated and worrying explanations as children won’t be able to process the information and it could leave them more frightened and confused.
It also advised asking children about what they know and how they feel about it.
Any young person who is worried can call Childline free on 0800 11 11.
Adults who want advice on how to talk to their child about terrorism can call the charity on 0808 800 5000.