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Childline received 1,212 calls, texts, and messages on Christmas Day

The news comes as Childline – which does not receive government funding – says it is concerned about its finances in 2013.

CHILDLINE RECEIVED 1,212 calls, texts and messages from children and young people on Christmas Day, it said today.

The ISPCC’s listening service for young people in Ireland said it was busy yesterday, with its dedicated ISPCC volunteers from across Ireland offering support to hundreds of children who needed to talk on Christmas Day.

Speaking to TheJournal.ie this morning, Margie Roe, National Childline Manager, said:

The number is slightly lower than last year but it’s still over 1000 children contacting us. It shows that it was a busy day as usual.
What that reflects really is that while Christmas is a day for kids, and most children enjoy the day, for others the reality is very different and Christmas can be a difficult time at home.

There were 70 volunteers working for Childline yesterday. Roe said that the calls reflected calls they received throughout the year, with the young people and children concerned about family difficulties, loneliness and mental health issues.

“That reflects the huge need for a service like Childline and the lack of 24-hour services for children and families in Ireland,” said Roe. “We are the only 24-hour service available.”

Finances

Roe noted that it is a very difficult time in the country financially, and that out-of-hours services such as Childline are needed for children and families.

“I think it has been a difficult few financial years at this stage,” she said.

What it shows really is that we have been determined to maintain the services that we have so that children are heard. So far the public have been fantastic and supported us. It has been a challenge; it has been very difficult. Funding dropped so we just have to work even harder in 2013 to ensure we raise the relevant funds. It is a real challenge and it is a real worry. We don’t receive any Government funding at all – we rely very heavily on the support of the public, so we’d like to say thanks to the public for the support, and also the volunteers. Without them you couldn’t provide the service we do.

Roe said it is “a real honour” for Childline to provide the services it does, and that “when you listen to young people it puts things into perspective”. While it has been another difficult financial year, the ISPCC said it has been determined to maintain its current services and try to ensure that as many children as possible are heard.

Concerns

Roe gave an insight into the types of calls received yesterday.

Children contacted Childline on Christmas Day for a variety of reasons but many of the calls as with throughout the year were from those experiencing family difficulties, loneliness and mental health issues. In some cases these children and young people feel they can’t talk to family and are not sure who to turn to. In these instances it is vital that services like Childline are there to offer listening support.

This year the ISPCC published the findings of their National Children’s Consultation, “Not bottled up inside”, which explored young people’s perception of social support and how this impacts on their mental and emotional health. Of the 14,000 surveyed, family life was found to have the most impact on emotional wellbeing (44 per cent) while 15 per cent said they could not really talk to their family.

“We would always encourage people to look for a significant adult in their family to talk to,” said Roe. “But sometimes they feel that they can’t do that. We really want to highlight the importance of adults to reach out to young people and let them know we care, no matter how difficult a subject it is.”

Read: ISPCC: Lack of teen mental health supports needs to be addressed>

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    Mute Aishling Keogh
    Favourite Aishling Keogh
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    Aug 23rd 2012, 6:26 PM

    RIP,another family’s heartbreak this evening :(

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    Mute Martina Ní Wynner
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    Aug 23rd 2012, 6:06 PM

    RIP

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    Mute Keith Moore
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    Aug 23rd 2012, 6:03 PM

    I hope it’s not James it would be such a waste of a young life.

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    Mute Cian O Donnell
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    Aug 23rd 2012, 7:47 PM

    seriously,how many other bodies are floating around in that river at any one time?

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    Mute Gavin Tracy
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    Aug 23rd 2012, 10:41 PM

    It would be someone else’s waste if life then….

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    Mute Susan Duffy
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    Aug 23rd 2012, 10:49 PM

    I hate to have say this why are people red thumbing that comment?

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    Mute louise
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    Aug 23rd 2012, 6:15 PM

    So sad news, I know body isn’t identified yet, thoughts with family at such a sad time, too young to die

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    Mute Richard Mason
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    Aug 23rd 2012, 7:52 PM

    What are the thumbs down about? I can’t see any contentious statements above!

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    Mute Bernadette Dunne
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    Aug 23rd 2012, 8:51 PM

    Richard just ignore the red thumbs on this story We all try too it is such a sad story for the Family who have to deal with this R.I.P and thought for the family

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    Mute Mark Vieregge
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    Aug 23rd 2012, 7:20 PM

    Oh no… :-/

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    Mute James O Mara
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    Aug 23rd 2012, 9:28 PM

    I hope it not James for hisfamly

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    Mute Laura Hannon
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    Aug 23rd 2012, 7:59 PM

    Thumbs down because any loss of life is sad whatever the age.

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    Mute Richard Mason
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    Aug 23rd 2012, 8:10 PM

    I agree Laura but I thought the idea of the thumbs was to make a statement about the comment. Apologies if I have misunderstood.

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    Mute Cian O Donnell
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    Aug 23rd 2012, 8:42 PM

    you havent mis understood at all,the thumbs system is indeed to indicate ones aggreement/disaggreement with a comment..people will thumbs down anything said on this site,no matter what it is

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    Mute Norma Kealy
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    Aug 23rd 2012, 11:43 PM

    well done to the boyne river rescue….a grim task indeed. my condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.

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    Mute kelly whelan
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    Aug 23rd 2012, 9:49 PM

    at least who ever it is has been.found. not in the way any family Will ever hope for but it Will be at least some peace for them. what a heartbreaking time for all concerned. rip.

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    Mute Aisling Doyle
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    Aug 23rd 2012, 9:09 PM

    Dont worry I seen the red thumb record here 1097 so I wouldnt take it personal sometimes with the iPhone or smart (not so Smart) when scrolling down page sometimes ppl hit off it by error I know I for one have .

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    Mute Eileen Gabbett
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    Aug 23rd 2012, 9:51 PM

    R I P . Condolences to the family of the deceased .

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    Mute Tomas Phelan
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    Aug 23rd 2012, 11:43 PM

    RIP to this poor soul, it’s someone’s son, brother etc. May his family gain the strength they will need to get them through the next week. how gives a flying f%@k about red thumbers. They are irrelevant. Trolls will be trolls.

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    Mute kelly whelan
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    Aug 23rd 2012, 9:49 PM

    at least who ever it is has been.found. not in the way any family Will ever hope for but it Will be at least some peace for them. what a heartbreaking time for all concerned. rip.

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    Mute Kay Tighe
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    Aug 24th 2012, 1:27 AM

    Very sad that someone’s son has be taken out of the river

    As for the red thumbs why won’t the journal get rid of this red / green
    Thumbs crap

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    Mute Gavin Tracy
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    Aug 24th 2012, 7:49 AM

    People are saying ” I hope it’s not James” . It’s somebody, and someone’s son!! Whoever it is are facing devastation.. I hope it’s not James just pushes the reality to some other poor family

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    Mute Mick Lennon
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    Aug 24th 2012, 8:56 AM

    am I right that the body found was that poor boy James,tragic,his life taken so young,only making his way in the world god be good to him

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    Mute Don McGuinness
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    Aug 23rd 2012, 11:47 PM

    Why was my comment deleted?

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    Mute Martin St John
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    Nov 26th 2012, 3:29 AM

    Because the journal is like that … Very picky in my opinion and just a tad conservative … It likes to think it’s an important broadsheet , but it’s not really that far removed from most Red-Tops!! Shrude and moronic!!

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