CHILDREN are increasingly worried about the coronavirus outbreak and lockdown, according to new figures.

Childline has held 2,200 counselling sessions between the end of January, when the first cases of coronavirus were identified in the UK, and Wednesday, April 8. 

Around 75% of these have involved the pandemic after the government imposed lockdown measures in March. 

There have been 1,700 contacts since measures were announced last month.

The National Society for the Protection of Children (NSPCC), which runs the service, said that in around half of these, children talked about concerns over their mental or emotional health.

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Despite Childline having to close its night service for the first time and having a 30% drop in volunteer hours, due to counsellors having to self-isolate, the charity is continuing to work to support vulnerable children across the country. 

A volunteer with Childline in Glasgow said anxiety around the virus and the resulting lockdown is exacerbating existing fears for children.

Kat McMahon, a volunteer counsellor at Glasgow’s Childline base, said: “At the moment, young people are contacting us with the same kinds of concerns as they usually do, such as family arguments, sexual abuse and suicidal thoughts but everything seems amplified.

"On top of their existing anxieties about what it is happening in their lives, they are now struggling with the anxiety around the lockdown and Covid.

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"Some have fears about their families catching the virus and many are struggling being away from school and their friends."

The NSPCC is growing increasingly concerned about the number of children who will experience abuse or neglect due to the impact of coronavirus.

The number of children reporting physical and emotional abuse has increased by 36 per cent and 31 per cent, respectively, in the past week.

Since last Wednesday, Childline has delivered 363 counselling sessions across the UK where children have experienced physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect – up nearly a fifth from the week before. 

Peter Wanless, CEO of NSPCC, said: “At this uncertain time when children’s lives have changed so dramatically the NSPCC needs to be there as a reassuring voice for those worried about their children and for the most vulnerable in our society.

“Sadly, we know that for many children, home isn’t a safe place and they need our Childline counsellors more than ever. This is the greatest challenge we’ve faced in decades and we are calling on the support of the public to help us ensure we can still be here for children.”

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Dame Esther Rantzen, founder of Childline, said: “The world is an unfamiliar and very frightening place for thousands of children across the UK at the moment. We know that school no longer provides the sanctuary it once did and many young people are having to face unprecedented challenges at home without the vital support networks that normally surround them.

“Now more than ever we must continue to be there for the young people who desperately need us, no matter what. We don’t know what other challenges lie ahead, but we want to be prepared to weather any storm so that we can be there for children. That is why we are urging the public to get behind our very important emergency appeal and donate £10 so that we can provide essential support.”

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