Number of children under 11 calling Childline with suicidal thoughts increases by 90 per cent

Children's helpline founder Esther Rantzen says new figures are 'deeply disturbing'

A growing number of children are calling Childline each day for advice on dealing with suicidal thoughts.

Recent figures published by the NSPCC, which runs Childline, show that an average of 67 young people are receiving help every day through counselling service, with Childline delivering 24,447 counselling sessions in 2018-19.

According to the NSPCC, this equates to a 25 per cent rise over the last three years, from 19,481 sessions in 2015-16.

The children’s charity adds that figures have particularly soared in children under the age of 11 experiencing suicidal feelings.

In 2018-19, Childline carried out 653 sessions, compared with 349 in 2015-16, which is an increase of 87 per cent.

Those who contacted the service cited concerns around mental health, self-harm, family relationships and problems at school or college, the NSPCC said.

Girls were more likely to share, with 16,444 counselling sessions, compared with 3,319 for boys.

In light of the findings, the NSPCC is launching a new campaign titled “Kids In Real Life” which urges the public to help save a child's life.

Childline founder Esther Rantzen said: “When we launched Childline in 1986, the majority of calls were from young people describing pain caused by someone else, this could include abuse, bullying or neglect.

”But over the last 10 years we have seen a rise in the number of children describing their feelings of such intense unhappiness that they tell Childline they want to end their own lives.”

Rantzen continued by calling the increase in calls regarding suicidal thoughts “deeply disturbing” and highlighted that many unhappy young people often hide their feelings to those around them, which can become “overwhelming”.

“Worryingly we don't have the resources to be there for every child who needs us, which is why it is so important the public get behind the campaign and supports the NSPCC in their mission to be there for all the young people who reach out in their darkest hour,” she explained.

The new campaign aims to highlight the suffering of children which can easily be masked online behind “filters, feed and emojis”.

The NSPCC is calling on people to show their support by donating to fund services such as Childline.

Childline in the UK can be reached on 0800 1111, or by confidential email via its website.

Any adult who is worried about a child can contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000, or by emailing help@nspcc.org.uk.