Glasgow Childline calls rise as Covid pressures hit youths

As the pandemic enters its second year, younger age groups struggling with their mental health have been reaching out to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).

More than 100 local volunteers have been working tirelessly from a hub in the East End to answer thousands of calls from young people who are worried about the effects of the virus. 

It is the second year in a row that the charity has recognised Covid as its main driver of calls. 

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Lauren Burke, team manager at the Childline base in Glasgow, said: “This year, we’ve been hearing of a lot of complex issues from young people. 

“With the ever-changing variants and potential for more restrictions, there is a sense of hopelessness for young people who are hoping life will get back to normal soon.”

Children revealed to Glasgow volunteers they felt isolated, confused and worried about their families catching the virus as Omicron case numbers soar in Scotland. 

Lauren said: “People have been quite concerned about the new variant and the nature of the calls are similar to the calls we were taking at the start of the pandemic.

“People are worrying again about vulnerable family members catching the virus financial worries if they need to isolate.

“We’ve noticed that during the last year, we’ve taken more calls from younger people so children who are eight, nine and 10-years-old.”

Those in the age bracket were found to be feeling low, anxious and down on their self-worth and self-esteem. 

Lauren said: “These feelings and emotions can be hard for them to deal with as they might not have felt these types of feelings before. 

“Although we are seeing more calls coming in from that age group, we are glad that they are coming to us for help and speaking to us. It allows us to help them move forward with whatever they are dealing with or going through.” 

The intensity and demand have led the team in Glasgow to hold debriefing sessions at the end of each day to discuss the nature of the calls that are coming in.

Lauren said: “We are trying to be really mindful of how the children and volunteers feel so we always do a debrief about the calls to check in how they are dealing with the calls they are receiving.

“As a manager, we like to have open conversations about the calls and about how they feeling – you can’t give from an empty cup.”

While volunteers continue to work around the clock to help children in need during the pandemic, they have described the job itself as rewarding and a “fabric of life”. 

Meg Robertson, who is a retired physiotherapist, started volunteering in 2005.

She said: “Volunteering for Childline has become part of the fabric of my life. I get something out of every shift I do. I feel that it’s an absolute privilege to be there for young people and give them support. It enriches my life. I get a lot back from it.

“During the pandemic, we heard from children that they felt anxious about Covid and about the effect it has had on their lives, such as having to isolate with their families and increased tensions at home.

“But the calls you get are really varied, you never know what’s going to come in. Working as a volunteer also keeps me in the loop. For example, a young person will come on and talk to me about a rap song or something and then I will go and look it up.”

Looking ahead to 2022, the charity is keen to get more volunteers onboard at its Glasgow base and has appealed to anybody who is interested to consider joining the team.

Lauren said: “The big focus at the Glasgow base right now is recruitment and retaining our volunteers. We want to keep them for as long as possible.

“Our volunteers are very reliable, they are the backbone of the organisation and they always have been. We just want to support as many young people as we can.

“We see themes coming in peaks and waves, everything feels very high risk at the moment and while young people get in touch with us about one problem, there could be 10 other things that they have going on at the same time.”

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 Those who are interested in volunteering in Glasgow can inquire by visiting www.nspcc.org.uk/support-us/volunteering-nspcc-childline/.

Meanwhile, the charity has urged parents and children who may need additional help this festive season to get in touch with its volunteers.

Lauren added: “We’d like to reiterate to any young person that is worried or concerned about anything or if they are going through a hard time during this period to get in touch with us.”

If adults are worried about children they can get advice from NSPCC practitioners on 0808 800 5000 or help@nspcc.org.uk.

Childline can be reached on 0800 1111 24-hours a day.