MORE THAN three quarters of a million counselling sessions have been carried out by Childline since the charity opened its HQ in Glasgow in 1990.
Mental health issues have replaced bullying as the main reasons young people call the service, the charity has revealed.
The Scottish base was launched with funding provided by royalties from Wet Wet Wet’s first number one hit With a Little Help from Our Friends.
Senior supervisor Margaret Anne McKay was a 22-year-old psychology postgraduate student at Strathclyde University when she started volunteering for the charity 30 years ago.
Read more: Esther Rantzen praises Childline volunteers in Glasgow
She said: “The things children and young people talk to us about has shifted over time. Over the past 10 years, there seems to be a much greater emphasis on mental health. Before that, bullying featured more. I think the internet and social media have made a huge difference, both in terms of what young people are exposed to, but there is also a very positive side, because they provide better access to help.”
During 2019/20, counsellors in Glasgow handled 27,449 contacts. The main concern was mental health, with more than a third (34%) of the contacts being about this issue. In 1990, all contacts were made by phone – now, 70 percent take place online.
Margaret Anne added: “You have to make decisions affecting the lives of vulnerable children and young people. But you can see the difference you are making.”
Esther Rantzen, who founded Childline in 1986, said: “Princess Diana loved meeting our volunteer counsellors and staff in Glasgow and paid tribute to their work. Much has changed over the last 30 years, but Childline’s heart has not. We still believe passionately that children have the right to be safe.”
Read more: Primary schoolchildren contact Childline every day
Glasgow Childline staff and volunteers will be walking, running or cycling 4km today to raise funds. To support them visit Just Giving. Children can call Childline on 0800 1111 or visit childline.org.uk
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