Childline call for young people in need of help over festive period to reach out
Counsellors in Liverpool are available 24/7
Childline counsellors in Liverpool are urging young people not to hesitate in reaching out if they're struggling this festive season.
The service delivered around 5,500 counselling sessions to children and young people over the 12 days of Christmas last year (24 December to 4 January), averaging more than 450 a day.
The charity says recurring issues and worries that arise around the festive season include:
- Reflecting on the prospect of being without a loved one
- Being worried about family conflict and adults consuming alcohol
- Feeling pressure to eat more than normal
- Concerns about family money worries
- Feelings of guilt or jealousy about the presents they get
One boy aged 15 told Childline:
"Christmas can be a tough time for me as there’s a lot of pressure to be ‘okay’, even though inside I know I’m not. And New Year’s is just as difficult.
"Many people see NYE as a new beginning, but to me it’s the start of surviving another 365 days, and knowing that most of those days will probably be spent with me feeling down about something. It’s the most draining thing ever!"
Another 18-year-old girl said to a counsellor:
"I can’t deal with my dad when he’s drinking. He promised me 2023 would be the year he’d quit but it was all lies. He drank a whole pack of beers on Christmas day and was blind drunk. I feel so alone - it’s like I don’t exist to him anymore."
They're open all day every day through the Christmas and New Year period.
Shaun Friel, Childline Director, said:
"As always Childline will be here to help the thousands of children and young people across the UK who we expect to contact us by phone and online over the festive period.
"Some concerns will be what we deal with throughout the year, while others are likely to be more specific to Christmas, such as adults drinking too much, family friction and financial pressures.
"Whatever the issue or concern is, we are reminding all children and young people that our trained counsellors will be here to listen and support them on every day of the 12 Days of Christmas and onwards into 2025."
Childline can be contacted on 0800 1111 or childline.org.uk.
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