Children counselled by ChildLine about suicide more than doubles

THE number of children counselled about suicide by ChildLine volunteers in the North West has more than doubled in the last 5 years, the NSPCC reveals. They include children as young as 7 years old.

The most recent call figures show that last year (07/08) ChildLine volunteers in the North West, including the new Liverpool base, counselled a total of 275 children and young people who told counsellors they were contemplating suicide. This compares to 109 children counselled 5 years ago in 2003/04 Of those callers who gave their age, 64%, were aged 12 to 15 years. 12 calls came from children aged 11 or under, including 2 who were aged just 7.

Nearly 3,000 children across the UK phoned ChildLine last year because they were feeling suicidal.  Some said they had attempted suicide, while others made attempts while on the phone to a counsellor. 1 in 14 was in immediate danger or needed urgent medical care.

ChildLine Assistant Director John Dunmore says:- “It is heartbreaking to listen to children talk of wanting to consider suicide. For a suicidal child, ChildLine can literally be a lifeline.  Suicidal children tell us they feel utterly lonely and helpless and, apart from ChildLine, nobody seems to care whether they live or die. Our counsellors are trained to deal with suicide calls so they can assess the danger and how best to help.

For some children, saying they want to take their own lives themselves is a cry for help, while others see it as the only way to escape their problems. While many callers will not actually attempt suicide we treat every call as extremely serious.

Children feel suicidal for complex and different reasons, but often say they have a history of abuse, neglect, family problems or mental health issues. Others have been driven to the brink by bullying, their parents’ divorce, the death of someone close or exam stress.  Children can hide their distress so effectively that parents may have no idea their child is suicidal. We want parents to be given guidance on how to spot possible signs, how to listen to their child’s worries and where to find help.

We strongly urge any child who feels suicidal to call ChildLine. Or they could speak to a trusted adult such as their teacher or doctor.  Every child deserves a happy childhood and the chance to grow and experience a full life. It is vital that children get the support they need.”

The NSPCC also wants teachers and doctors to be trained to identify suicide distress signs before children reach crisis point.  Therapy should also be available for all children who have suffered abuse. 1 in 5 of those who called ChildLine about suicide said they had been sexually abused and nearly 1 in 3 said they had been physically abused.

10 year old Sophie told a ChildLine counsellor:- “I hate my life now dad’s gone because I get blamed for everything and mum is in the pub every day. We never have any money because of her drinking and I’ve got no friends now. I just want to die.”

Another caller, thirteen year old Paul said:- “I feel like killing myself. My mum and dad beat me and I’m getting bullied at school. I don’t have anyone else to turn to except ChildLine. No one else would be able to help me. I’m scared of telling anyone.”

4 out of 5 calls to ChildLine about suicide were from girls and only 20% were from boys. But calls from boys are rising faster and are now 4 times higher than 5 years ago.

Since ChildLine joined with the NSPCC in 2006, the helpline has been expanded and answers more calls from children and young people than ever before. Even so, ChildLine is still unable to answer 1 in 3 calls.  In response, the NSPCC is urgently calling on the public to donate to its Child’s Voice Appeal.4 The charity needs to raise an extra £50 million over the next 3 years, in addition to £30 million already pledged by the UK Government, so that ChildLine can try to answer every call for help.

John Dunmore says:- “Children need ChildLine more than ever. We desperately need public support to help save young lives and be there for more children.”

MERSEYSIDE ENFORCES ORDER DURING GLOBAL ROYAL NAVY TRAINING DEPLOYMENT

A Liverpool sailor has embarked on one of the largest Royal Navy Task Group deployments to the Far East in over a decade.

Leading Regulator Jenny Snelham, 31 from Woolton, who has been in the Royal Navy for 11 years, is currently in the Mediterranean, but will visit the Middle East and South East Asia as part of the Taurus 09 deployment over the next six months.

Taurus 09 will ensure that the Royal Navy maintains its traditional sea fighting capabilities, at a time when many naval personnel are also serving alongside their Army and RAF colleagues on land-based operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Serving on board the Type 23 Frigate HMS Somerset, whose home port is Devonport in Plymouth, Jenny's role during the Taurus 09 deployment is to provide support to the captain in the maintenance of good order and discipline amongst the ship's company. In addition she also steers the ship in and out of harbour and is responsible for the receipt and dispatch of mail on board.

“We have been planning this deployment for 18 months and to finally set off on it is really exciting. I am joining around 3,300 naval personnel to carry out vital training with 17 other countries.

Phase one will involve amphibious training in the Mediterranean, culminating in a series of amphibious landings as part of a combined exercise.

The second phase will see us travel through the Suez Canal, before taking part in a multi-national jungle warfare training package in Brunei. We will also train with the Bangladeshi Navy for the first time in ten years.” said Jenny.

Jenny and HMS Somerset will be part of a Task Group comprising eight Royal Navy ships, a US Navy destroyer, a French Navy frigate and two of the UK’s nuclear powered submarines.

In addition, the land and air fighting branches of the Royal Navy will be taking part: Royal Marines from 40 Commando in Taunton; the Fleet Diving Unit; Assault Squadron Royal Marines from Plymouth; aircraft from 820 and 857 Naval Air Squadrons (NAS) from RNAS Culdrose; 847 NAS and Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) Sea Kings based in Yeovil and Support Helicopter Force Chinooks from 18 Squadron, RAF Odiham.

The Task Group is due to return to the UK in August 2009, having clocked up over 20,000 nautical miles.

Powerful and versatile with the capability to operate anywhere in the world, the Type 23 frigate is the mainstay of the modern surface fleet.

The 13 Type 23 frigates form 50% of the total frigate/destroyer force in the Royal Navy.

Originally designed for the principal task of anti-submarine warfare, they have evolved into multi-purpose ships with the capability to operate anywhere in the world. The effectiveness of these ships is enhanced by their stealth design, which reduces their radar signature significantly.

In addition to warfare roles, these ships also conduct embargo operations using boarding teams inserted from the ship's boats or helicopter, disaster relief work and surveillance operations.

The present HMS Somerset is the fourth to bear the name and was built by Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd in Glasgow. She was launched on 24 June 1994 on the Clyde by Lady Elspeth Layard, wife of the then Second Sea Lord Admiral Sir Michael Layard, and commissioned on 20 September 1996.