A CHILDRENS charity revealed more children troubled by suicide, depression and self-harm are contacting the service.
New figures from Childline, which had its 25th anniversary at the end of October, show the number youngsters communicating about these difficulties has significantly increased since the introduction of its online service.
Last year, which saw the launch of the online service, North Wales ChildLine base in Prestatyn counselled 1,676 children about depression, self harm and suicide.
Of these, 931 contacts were online and 745 were over the phone compared to the year before, where counsellors dealt with 711 phone enquiries on those issues.
Ann Pulling, ChildLine services manager in Prestatyn, said: “Most children who contact us online are deeply troubled. It’s not yet clear if more children are suffering mental health problems, or if they simply find it easier to discuss them online.
“In many cases they will be struggling to cope with inner feelings they can’t control or understand. Sadly, for some, those feelings become so overwhelming they see no other option but to give up on life.”
Mrs Puling said the latest statistics suggested children across the UK are nearly three times more likely to discuss self-harm online than on the phone.
She said: “By developing our online service we can reach out to more of these very troubled children who are struggling to cope with complex problems that are blighting their lives, and may not have contacted us without this new service.”
Online contacts included a girl, 14, who said she felt she needed to take an overdose because it was the “least painful way” while another girl, 15, said she was terrified of ending up like her drug-addicted brother.
Founder of ChildLine, Esther Rantzen, said: “ChildLine saves lives and brings abusers to justice. But it could not do any of this without its dedicated supporters and volunteers. Without them, not one child would have been helped.”
To support or contact the centre, visit www.childline.com.