Childline gave over 1,100 young Scots counselling sessions over suicidal thoughts

Over half of all the sessions the charity conducted between April 2023 and March 2024 were about mental health

Childline delivered more than 1,100 counselling sessions to youngsters in Scotland with suicidal thoughts in a year, new figures reveal. Over half (55%) of all sessions conducted 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 focused on suicidal thoughts and feelings, with 671 on self-harm. Loneliness and stress were additional problems highlighted by youngsters.

Throughout 2023/24, the organisation, which supports young people up to the age of 19, provided 8,190 counselling sessions throughout Scotland.

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 £15million 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.

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“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 £16million 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 their website.

When life is difficult, Samaritans are here – day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.

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