During the pandemic, Childline services gives children and young people who are anxious about the coronavirus a safe environment in which to speak and be listened to, and to get support.
Childline delivers counselling sessions and has collected the children’s main concerns:
- Mental health:
- increased feelings of depression and anxiety
- more frequent panic attacks, nightmares
- feeling lonely or isolated
- children feel trapped, having suicidal thoughts and feelings, using self-harm to cope
- they receive less or no support for their existing mental health concerns
- those who are getting support in hospitals are no longer able to have visitors or have been moved to another facility.
- Family relationships:
- difficult and stressful environments, more arguments
- witnessing arguments between parents
- arguments about visiting rights
- they can’t seek emotional support from other members of the family (e.g. grandparents)
- worried their family might catch the virus.
- Doing schoolwork at home:
- difficult to organise their day
- unable to access the usual support
- difficult to find a quiet space at home
- struggling with motivation
- worrying about their future prospects.
- Bullying:
- blame race/ethnicity for the virus
- name calling, comments, rumours, cruel jokes and verbal attacks
- they find it difficult to tell their parents.
- after school closures less bullying occurs.
- Abuse:
- abuse/neglect at home is increasing
- can’t get out of the house for support
- most prevalent forms:
- emotional abuse
- sexual / online sexual abuse
- physical abuse
- neglect
Childline tries to help those in need during these difficult times. Data was collected by searching for the word 'coronavirus', 'covid-19' or 'virus' in the counsellor’s case notes, but it is likely that more children have concerns which are in some way related to the ongoing situation that didn't match those records.
Visit Childline for information about coronavirus for children and young people, or NSPCC Learning for more information about safeguarding and child protection during the coronavirus.