Childline provides vital support to children in Scotland during the pandemic
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Childline has revealed it has seen almost 400 children in Scotland get in touch due to Coronavirus (Covid-19), with about three quarters of the contacts in the latter three weeks.
The 390 counselling sessions have been held 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, schools’ shutdown and the lockdown in close succession.
Since the end of January, there have been 2200 counselling sessions with children across the UK about the issue, with 1700 contacts since measures were announced.
Children spoke about concerns over their mental or emotional health.
Despite Childline having to close the night service for the first time due to counsellors having to self-isolate, it’s battling to still be there for children across the UK.
Commenting, Kat McMahon, a volunteer counsellor at Childline's 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.
"We hear from some young people who say they feel trapped because they cannot leave the house.”
A volunteer counsellor at Aberdeen’s Childline base, Dave Black, said: “At the moment, young people are not getting their usual support in the community, with the closure of many public services, and we are hearing how this is impacting on them and causing distress.
“Children are saying they are missing school - for some, school is their safe place and where they get support and fed.
“Some of these young people don’t have anyone to talk to and Childline is absolutely critical for them to be able to share and get some support.”
The NSPCC, who run Childline are growing increasingly concerned about the number of children who will experience abuse or neglect due to the impact of Coronavirus.
In the past few weeks Childline has also heard from children whose parents have lost their jobs and are under growing financial pressure, as well as from young carers struggling to look after their siblings whilst their parents fall sick with Coronavirus symptoms.
