Number of children in Wales counselled by Childline over mental health worries soars significantly since lockdown

• More than 1,500 Childline counselling sessions for children in Wales about mental and emotional health since lockdown was first enforced
• Young people share that they don’t fit in or feel ‘normal’
• Childline launches Nobody is Normal campaign to let children know they aren’t alone

Since lockdown measures were first introduced Childline has delivered more than 1,500 counselling sessions about mental and emotional health, with children from Wales reaching out for help with issues including loneliness and low self-esteem.

The NSPCC, which runs Childline, has revealed how it’s counselled 17% more children in Wales about their mental health, from an average of 191 per month before the first national lockdown measures were introduced to an average of 224 sessions per month since the end of March.

Childline has counselled 1,566 children and young people in Wales since April with the service hearing from children who, after being cut off from important support networks, shared that they were feeling isolated, anxious and insecure.

Now with Wales emerging from “firebreak” restrictions, Childline is launching a new campaign called Nobody is Normal. It aims to help children understand that lacking confidence, feeling not good enough or that you don’t fit in, is a shared experience. Childline, which has volunteer counsellors based in Prestatyn and Cardiff answering contacts from children across the UK and Channel Islands, is encouraging them not to suffer in silence. 

Developed with young people, the campaign features a bold new animation of a young boy who is struggling with anxiety while desperately trying to appear ‘normal’. Backed by Radiohead’s hit song Creep, it reminds young people that no matter how isolated they feel, they are not alone and Childline is here.

Across the UK and Channel Islands, Childline has delivered higher monthly numbers of counselling sessions about a range of mental health-related issues since March, including low self-esteem, loneliness and worries about the world. Mental health remains the top reason young people get in touch with Childline, making up over a third of all counselling sessions delivered to children.

Counsellors have heard that some children have developed unhealthy eating behaviours for the first time such as binge eating and bulimia nervosa, and those with existing eating disorders have experienced worsened symptoms, or a relapse.

A young girl told Childline:

“I don’t know if it’s just me being sad because of lockdown, but I’ve been feeling really disgusting in my own body lately. All my friends have clear and beautiful skin with even tones, but mine is spotty and red and covered in freckles. I just feel like I’m always the odd one out.”

The number of contacts from children in Wales about body image has increased since the end of March.

Throughout the pandemic, Childline counsellors have heard from children who have shared that the crisis has affected their mental and emotional health.

Childline Founder, Dame Esther Rantzen said:

“The pandemic has cut children off from the reassurance many of them need. When young people are facing mental health issues such as anxiety or depression or are struggling with eating disorders or self-harm, they often hide it from their parents and families. A lockdown intensifies stress in all our lives, and the Childline team know from past experience that it has made many children feel especially isolated.

“The Nobody is Normal campaign encourages any children feeling unable to discuss their anxiety and distress to reach out to Childline for support. Many young people are under immense pressure from social media to look and behave like everyone else, but the campaign recognises that we are all individuals, special and unique. If these tough times have caused children to feel an extra level of anxiety, we want them to feel confident to express their fears and share their worries, and know that Childline is still here for them.”

The service has also heard that lockdown gave some children within the LGBTQ+ community the confidence to come out to their friends and family, whilst others expressed fears about coming out and some young people were left unable to cope after receiving a negative response.

Anyone with any concerns about the welfare of a child can call the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or visit nspcc.org.uk for advice.

Children can call Childline on 0800 11 11 from 7.30am to midnight from Monday to Friday or 9am to midnight on weekends. Or they can get in touch via www.childline.org.uk.

More information on the ‘Nobody is Normal’ campaign can be found here: https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/your-feelings/normal

All names and potentially identifying details have been changed to protect the identity of the child or young person. Quotes are created from real Childline service users but are not necessarily direct quotes from the child or young person.

“I think I’m transgender and I have no one to talk to. I have always been a tomboy and never fitted in with the girls. I was fine with it for a while, but recently I have become very uncomfortable with my gender and I’m really struggling. I feel stuck, I wish someone can help me.” (Girl, aged 14)

“I love hanging out with my friends but I always feel like I don’t fit in because I am the fat one of the group. I will usually find ways to bin my lunch secretly, but since school has closed this hasn’t been easy as my parents are always telling me to eat. I’ve become so obsessed with losing weight, my mind is like a calculator; I refuse to eat anything that’s high calorie or with ‘red flags’ on, and I sometimes pretend I’m sick just to get out of family meals”.  (Girl, aged 12-15)

“All the girls think I’m a weirdo because I like gaming and sports and not girly stuff like perfume, make-up and all that. Sometimes I feel a bit left out and I wonder if I should just be like them so I can fit it” (Girl, age unknown)

“I’m just in a bit of a mental hole at the moment and not really sure how to get out. I’m feeling useless and unwanted – it’s been like this since I came out as trans at school. I started receiving comments all the time like “you‘ll never be a real girl” or “you’re just pretending”. Before I came out, I kinda just blended in, kept my head down and everything was fine. I guess I was too naive in hoping that I could continue blending in, just as one of the girls”. (Transgender, 16)