Childline delivered more than 1,000 counselling sessions on suicide in one year

Childline delivered more than 1,000 counselling sessions in Scotland addressing suicidal thoughts in a year, figures show.

More than half (55%) of all sessions delivered between April 2023 and March 2024 were about mental health, with 4,485 addressing issues such as depression and anxiety.

A total of 1,109 sessions were about suicidal thoughts and feelings and 671 were about self-harm. Loneliness and stress were also concerns raised by children.

The charity, which offers support for young people aged up to 19, delivered 8,190 counselling sessions in Scotland in 2023/24.

One primary school-aged girl who contacted Childline said: “I’m so self-conscious of how I look, my personality, what people think about me. It makes me feel anxious. I know everyone is different, but I feel different in a bad way. Reading and drawing are my ways to escape.”

Another girl, 11, told the charity: “I feel so lonely at school, I only really have one friend. What’s harder though is I feel I can’t talk about how much it upsets me. My parents seem annoyed or judgmental when I try to talk about my feelings. Speaking to Childline feels like a weight has been lifted.”

Adeniyi Alade, service head of Childline, who is based at Aberdeen Childline, said: “Growing up can be tough at times and our counsellors talk to children and young people every day to support them with their mental health and wellbeing.

“This Mental Health Day we’d like to remind young people that our friendly counsellors are here for them all day, every day, to talk about whatever is worrying them.

“They don’t need to struggle alone. We can help, whether they are feeling anxious, lonely, or depressed.

“At the NSPCC and Childline, we also believe that mental health support should be available in all communities across Scotland and are calling on the Scottish Government to implement this to reach every pupil who needs help.”

Mental wellbeing minister Maree Todd said: “We are providing local authorities with £15 million a year to fund community mental health and wellbeing support and services for children, young people and their families.

“These are focused on prevention and early intervention, promoting positive mental health and wellbeing and tackling emotional distress.

“These supports and services are available in every local authority area, with more than 300 in place across the country.

“More than 58,000 people accessed this community-based support in the first half of 2023.”

She added: “We also continue to provide local authorities with an annual investment of £16 million to support counselling services, in place through secondary schools and available to all children aged ten years and over.”

The Childline website also provides support to young people with advice pages and resources.

Childline can be contacted on 0800 1111 or via 1-2-1 chat on www.childline.org.uk.