Loneliness 'can lead children to contemplate suicide'

 

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ChildLine report notes loneliness rise

A new report from children's charity ChildLine has noted that the organisation is receiving an increasing number of calls from young people experiencing emotional distress as a result of loneliness.

The number of calls being taken from children struggling to cope with feelings of isolation has more than doubled in five years, according to researchers at the charity.

Sue Minto, Head of ChildLine, told the BBC: "Loneliness has always been a part of some children's lives but it is deeply worrying that more children are contacting us about this."

Between April 2008 and March 2009, a total of 5,525 children called ChildLine primarily because of feelings of loneliness, isolation or sadness, compared to 1,853 five years ago.

The study showed loneliness was also cited as a factor affecting the well-being of an additional 4,399 children calling about other problems, resulting in an overall total of 9,924 calls - 6 per cent of all those received by ChildLine between April 2008 and March 2009.

 

Loneliness 'can leave children feeling suicidal'

According to Ms Minto, some children feel so alone in their day to day lives that they consider resorting to self-destructive measures in an attempt to rid themselves of their loneliness.

She told the broadcaster: "Lonely children often feel worthless and lack self-confidence, and some struggle to cope.

"Calls to Childline show that in the worst cases children became so desperate that they self-harm or even contemplate suicide."

Analysis of the calls received by the charity, during which loneliness was cited as a significant cause of emotional distress, showed that approximately one in six were found to be from children under the age of 11.

The research also revealed that more than double the number of girls called the charity to talk about their feelings of isolation than boys.

According to the report, 6,835 calls from young females were received by the organisation between April 2008 and March 2009, compared to 3,089 from young males.

 

Why are some children so lonely?

Children experience loneliness for a variety of reasons, according to ChildLine.

The organisation found several causes of loneliness were repeatedly cited by young people during calls to the charity, with family relationship problems, school problems and bullying the most common.

Of the latter, Dr Mike Shooter CBE, Samaritans’ trustee and chair of the Mental Health Foundation, says: "There is no sadder sight than a young person left […] feeling miserable and picked upon by those who may have similar self-doubts but who cover them up by shunning those who seem weaker than themselves."

He adds that many young people, particularly those in their teens, struggle with loneliness while at school due to feeling rejected by their peer group.

This assertion is backed by the ChildLine report, which states that many of the calls received by the organisation come from children who lack a tight-knit group of friends or other supportive social network.

Further reasons for loneliness cited by counsellors interviewed by the BBC included parental rows or divorce, bereavement and abuse or neglect.

 

Loneliness 'top concern for young people'

A survey conducted in December by YouGov on behalf of Samaritans found that loneliness ranked as one of the top concerns for young people for 2009.

While money, relationships and health concerns were rated as being of the highest concern to the 2,082 adults surveyed, among those aged 18 to 24, loneliness was seen as a key issue for the coming year.

Dr Shooter says: "I am not at all surprised that young people feel more anxious about loneliness than other age groups.

"Relationships are at the essence of adolescence, when young people are desperately trying to work out what they want for themselves and what other people expect from them.

"This is very normal and a huge part of our development, but for some this period can be an absolute nightmare."

According to the survey, 21 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds questioned cited loneliness as their top worry for 2009, compared to eight per cent of people over the age of 55.

Dr Shooter adds: "These survey results show that all people at every age in their lives have worries and fears about loneliness."

 

Tackling loneliness

Samaritans advises young people experiencing profound feelings of loneliness to talk about their feelings, be that with someone close to them or a support organisation, such as Samaritans.

Dr Shooter says: "Loneliness or the fear of it can drive young people to the brink of despair and we need to encourage them to seek support and to talk about how they are feeling."

His opinion is backed by counsellors interviewed by the BBC on the subject of loneliness among young people. One told the broadcaster that the structure of the modern family is not always conducive to emotional openness.

They said: "The fact that families and people in general increasingly don't eat together and then go off and do their own things [… means] that social skills among younger people are not being encouraged."

The importance of young people letting someone know if they are feeling isolated or lonely is emphasised by Samaritans' chief executive Catherine Johnstone.

She says: "Sharing your troubles can be a huge relief and is often the first step to finding a way of coping with the challenges that life throws at all of us."

 

Sources

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8569799.stm

http://www.uknetguide.co.uk/Latest-News/ChildLine-sees-large-rise-in-lonely-children-calling-for-help-19670035.html

http://www.samaritans.org/media_centre/latest_press_releases/christmas_survey_2009.aspx

 

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