Thousands of children and teenagers turned to Childline over loneliness last year
A growing number of children and young people are reaching out to Childline for help as they struggle with loneliness and isolations.
In the past 12 months the NSPCC-run service delivered 4,893, counselling sessions – an annual increase of seven per cent – to youngsters seeking support with loneliness.
Where age was known, almost half of all counselling sessions (45%) were delivered to teenagers between the ages of 16-18.
According to the NSPCC, a number of those who reached out to Childline spoke about feeling isolated and being unable to make friends when going through major life changes, such as moving away or starting a new job.
Summer can be a particularly difficult time for children and young people dealing with loneliness. Childline counselling sessions last year for the issue peaked in July.
One boy, aged 12 from Wales told Childline, said: “I feel completely out of touch with the world – like nothing is real. I don’t have any friends and I can’t stand being around my family, so I spend all my time in my room just wasting away.”
Those who contacted the service often spoke about wanting a sense of belonging or connection, being bullied, feeling like friends and family are too busy to talk to them and not knowing where to seek support for loneliness.
Many also said that being online contributed to feelings of loneliness, with seeing their friends post about their lives online or being excluded from group chats citied as issues.
A girl, aged 17 said: “Recently my ‘friend’ cancelled on me, then later I saw she was out with other friends when she posted about it online. I feel so let down and so alone, I really feel like I have no friends.”
Shaun Friel, Childline Director, said it was heart-breaking to see so many people turning to Childline because they feel lonely.
“At Childline, we’re hearing older teenagers expressing worries that they won’t fit in when they are going through significant life changes such as starting college, university or a new job and younger children feeling left out of social plans during the summer holidays,” said Shaun.
“It is important that we acknowledge these feelings and don’t ignore them. This Loneliness Awareness Week, we want to remind children and young people that Childline is here for them, no matter what their situation.”
The NSPCC has released tips for children struggling with loneliness and advice to parents on how to support young people.
- Communicate openly: Encourage children to talk about their feelings and listen without judgement.
- Discover what’s causing the problem: Gently explore why they might be feeling this way and validate their emotions.
- Encourage socialising: Help children find opportunities to connect with peers through hobbies, clubs, or activities.
- Help them build their confidence: Celebrate their strengths and achievements and remind them of the positive relationships in their lives.
- Build a supportive environment: Loneliness isn’t something that can be resolved with one conversation. It is important to create an environment of openness where a child can talk to you about their feelings and any struggles they may be facing.
- Advice for children who are struggling with loneliness:
- Do things that feel positive: Try your best to take part in activities you enjoy, whether that’s playing a sport, listening to music, reading a book, or drawing. Small positive actions really can have a big impact on your mood.
- Take care of yourself: When you are struggling with difficult feelings, it is important to continue to prioritise your basic needs such as eating well, staying hydrated, and getting enough sleep. Taking care of your body can have a positive impact on your mental health.
- Try to find ways to socialise: Whether it’s joining a club, connecting with peers at school, or reaching out to a trusted friend, prioritising socialising can help to reduce feelings of loneliness
Remember it is always okay to ask for help: Speak to a trusted adult, a teacher, a friend, or contact Childline. No matter what you’re feeling, you don’t have to go through it alone.
Childline is available for young people via the phone on 0800 1111 and online through the 121 chat on the Childline website.
Picture: NSPCC
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