Press Release

26 February 2007

One in six calls (1,009) to ChildLine last year concerning mental health came from girls who talked about suicide.

Some even rang the 24-hour helpline while attempting to take their own life and others said they had already tried to kill themselves and were thinking of trying again.

On one occasion a ChildLine counsellor helped save the life of a girl who had taken an overdose in her bedroom while her parents were downstairs, unaware of what was happening. After getting the girl's agreement, the counsellor called the emergency services and an ambulance arrived at the house in time to save the youngster whose grateful father rang the next day to say thank you.

Analysis of calls over the last year to ChildLine, which is a service provided by the NSPCC, reveal that more than 6,000 children and young people called about mental health problems. These were related to depression, eating disorders, family troubles, bullying, living with someone who has a mental illness and physical and sexual abuse. The calls came from children as young as five.

Previous research (1) shows an alarming decline in the mental health of UK adolescents with rates of depression and anxiety increasing by 70% in the last 25 years.

Assistant director of ChildLine, Joelle Leader says: "When young people talk about suicide they are obviously in deep despair. They are at crisis point with no one else to turn to, which is why they call us.

"The number of children who rang to talk about mental health issues last year could have filled 250 classrooms, so it's a big problem.

"We are able to give immediate advice to these young people, who are going through a terrifying experience but it is clear that those who call us with serious problems may need more intensive therapeutic support over a sustained period. At the moment, there are simply not enough therapeutic services for children with these problems, and we are urging the government to give this issue urgent attention."

Of the calls to ChildLine about suicide (1265) nearly four out of five - 1009 - came from girls. There were 256 from boys. But despite the higher number of calls from girls, statistics show that suicide rates among 15-21 year olds are around three times higher for males than females. (2)

Eating problems also featured high on the list of mental health concerns with 1,854 girls and 158 boys ringing for help and advice. Some told how they wanted to lose weight after being bullied. Another 725 called about self harm with many explaining they believed it helped them cope with other problems.

Family difficulties encountered by many of the callers included living with someone suffering with mental health problems or with parents who were abusive, neglectful or drank too much.

Fourteen-year-old Rosie * told a ChildLine counsellor: "Mum has been on anti-depressants for years. The doctor wants her to keep taking them but she's stopped. It's really scary. I feel like I've had to raise myself - it's made me lonely and depressed."

Fifteen year old Craig *, told a ChildLine counsellor: "I've taken some tablets and drunk a bottle of vodka. There's no point. No one cares about me. My mum didn't even notice that I've self harmed. I have nothing to feel good about anymore."

Ends

Media Office on 0207 825 2835 out of hours mobile 0797 620 6625

* Identifying details have been changed to protect callers' identity

Notes to editors

Last year (1st April 2005 -31st March 2006) 6,087 children and young people called ChildLine about mental health issues. The research is based upon these calls.

1. Between the ages of four and twenty years old - Mental Health Foundation (1999) 'Bright Futures, Promoting Children and Young People's Mental Health.'

2. ONS (2001), News Release Children and adolescents who try to harm, hurt or kill themselves, August 2001 http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/child0801.pdf

ChildLine is the UK's free, 24-hour helpline for children in danger or distress. Trained volunteer counsellors comfort, advise and protect children and young people.

The NSPCC and ChildLine have now formally joined together in a move that will ensure even stronger services and a more influential voice for children and young people. The ChildLine service, now within the NSPCC, still has the same well known telephone number - 0800 1111 - and children and young people can still call 24 hours a day and receive the same crucial service.  The NSPCC's 24 Hour Helpline - 0808 800 5000 - also remains the same and can be contacted by anyone with concerns or worries about a child.

For more information on the NSPCC and ChildLine visit - www.nspcc.org.uk and www.childline.org.uk 

ChildLine casenotes:
Calls to ChildLine about depression and mental health

 ChildLine mental health casenote (PDF, 775.5kb)