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Big rise in male ChildLine calls
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by generaldecay | July 26, 2009 at 11:02 pm
90 views | 4 Recommendations | 6 comments
I was shocked when I heard this on the news this morning.
ChildLine is a free 24 hour counselling service for children and young people up to and including 18 in the UK provided by The NSPCC.[1] ChildLine deals with any issue which causes distress or concern, such as child abuse, bullying and sex.
What are we doing to our children? Levels of abuse against chidren (both by their peers and adults) are clearly rising.
A record number of boys called the children's counselling service ChildLine last year - double the amount seeking help five years ago. More than 58,000 boys phoned the charity in 2007/8 with problems ranging from loneliness to violent abuse.
Boys are most likely to call about bullying, with 12,568 cases last year. Head of ChildLine Sue Minto said: "Desperate boys call because they feel they have no-one to turn to. "It's heartbreaking to hear their stories of rape and violent beatings, often by their parents." She continued: "There's still the stigma that boys don't cry but it may be there's no longer so much pressure to be macho. "They sometimes suffer in silence for months - by the time they call us they can be suicidal." The calls included one from a 14-year-old boy who said: "My dad hits me with a belt as punishment. "This happens once or twice a month and leaves marks for days."
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (6)
at 11:09 on July 27th, 2009
Sometimes some of the worst places are to be when you're a kid is to be at school, with all the bullying. I think many kids will be better off mentally if they had got private tuition, even if their parents taught them, there are so many books available now. Schools are often covering their backs too, just want to protect themselves and their image.
at 22:46 on July 27th, 2009
I am not hugely in favour of home-schooling because I believe that it fails to provide many of the skills children need to go forward but I agree that the school environment is horrible for many children. I was bullied myself in school but, thankfully, I was able to turn my experiences into something positive whereby I have never allowed anyone to bully me since!
Thank you for the recommendation and comment, Beaulieu.
at 11:11 on July 27th, 2009
Of course, if their parents beat them it is even worse...they don't have the life experience to cope.
at 11:12 on July 27th, 2009
Isn't it right that in America children can divorce their parents?
at 11:40 on July 27th, 2009
Yes. However, being granted legal emancipation is a lengthy and expensive process that most cannot afford. It requires an investigation into any allegations for why a minor should be emancipated and court hearings.
at 22:48 on July 27th, 2009
I did hear this, Beaulieu, indeed. It always seemed a little far-fetched to me but there is likely a place for it!
Grace H, thank you for the helpful information.