High Sheriff talks to NSPCC about the effects of Covid on youngsters
monthly number of counselling sessions for mental and emotional health provided to children aged 11 and under had risen by 16 per cent from pre-lockdown levels.
Counselling sessions where children spoke about loneliness also rose by 10 per cent and the Childline website has received three times as many visits compared to the prelockdown period from January to March.
The reasons for these increases are many and varied but they reflect a concern about the effect of Covid on themselves or members of their family, a lack of interaction with other young people, the loss of supervision and support of schools, and anxieties regarding exams.
In some very vulnerable families, domestic abuse has increased, leading to great distress to the young living in the same household. Furthermore, although social media can help to reduce a sense of isolation, some studies show that heavy use of online media is associated with worsening distress and loneliness.
Thankfully, the report demonstrates that children and young people know how to access Childline and that, through the dedication of its staff and volunteers, it remained open without fail throughout last year.
However, the report also shows the problems of the pandemic have prevented some of its volunteers from being able to continue in their role and there has been a 40 per cent drop in their numbers in the same period.
With the disruption to our schools and daily living likely to continue for some time to come, Childline has never been more important as a source of support for young people who have nowhere else to turn. But Childline itself needs help if it is to continue to offer the same level of service and the NSPCC is urgently appealing to people in West Sussex who can spare four hours one evening a week, or at the weekend, to volunteer.
If this is not possible, there is also a range of other ways to support the charity, including taking on a sponsored challenge, Kick the Caffeine, or fundraising in the community.
The charity will be very grateful for all the support we can give Childline so that it can continue in its vital work with children and young people to ‘safeguard the vulnerable’.
Children can call Childline on 0800 1111 from 7.30am to 3.30am Monday to Friday, or 9am to 3.30am at weekends. Or they can get in touch via www.childline.org.uk
To find out more about volunteering for Childline, visit www.nspcc.org.uk/support-us/ volunteering-nspcc-childline/ volunteer-childline-helpline
More advice on parenting through the pandemic can be found at www. nspcc.org.uk/keeping-childrensafe/coronavirus-advice-suppportchildren-families-parents