50 children attempt to take their own life while on the phone to Childline every year

Childline by ISPCC is appealing to the Irish public to support Ireland's only 24/7 listening service for children and young people as shocking statistics are revealed that include:

• 50 children a year are in the process of trying to take their own life while on the phone to the Childline team     
• 300 children a year contact Childline about sexual abuse involving rape, incest and being forced to watch and/or perform sexual acts      
• 50 contacts are received every week in relation to sexual, physical and emotional abuse     
• Physical abuse contacts are related to domestic violence, hitting and physical punishment      
• Physical abuse peaks when children are 13 years of age; sexual abuse peaks at the age of 16     
• The Childline team spends the equivalent of 50 full days a year talking to children and young people in immediate crisis    

Children and young people reach out to ISPCC’s team of trained volunteers and professional staff to tell them of the trauma they endure, which includes sex trafficking, experiencing choking and strangulation and being made to watch and perform sexual acts as well as neglect and abuse.

• Sophie’s* father has become so out of his mind on drugs at times that he has forced himself on her, thinking she is his partner. Sophie is terrified of him.     
• Sixteen-year-old Aisling* is petrified of her fifty-something “boyfriend” who makes her perform sexual acts that she doesn’t want to do.      
• Conor*, who is only eight years old, lives in terror of his mother’s new partner who takes his anger out on him. He worries that no one would believe him, although he has the bruises to prove it.      
• Orla* is 10 years old, fatherless and lonely. She rings Childline for company while she minds her three-year-old brother when her mother leaves her alone to go out drinking.      

It takes a lot of courage for a child to ring Childline, and the 24/7 Childline listening service means that there is always someone to listen if a child or young person needs to share their story, during the festive season and all through the year.  

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John Church, ISPCC, CEO said:

“This Christmas, we call on the people of Ireland to think of the children for whom Christmas is not a time of joy but instead just another nightmarish day in a life filled with trauma." 

Church continued:

“Too many children in this country don’t have the Christmas they deserve. Unfortunately, we still have vulnerable children and families in situations drowning without the support they require and deserve – and have a right to.  

“We depend on donations for up to 90% of the funding which keeps us listening 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year. Without your help, we wouldn’t be here for the children who need us so much.” 

Actress, Saoirse Ronan has also put her full support behind ISPCC’s Christmas appeal campaign to reveal the dark truths behind childhood in Ireland and says:  

“For too many children and young people, Christmas doesn’t mean presents or a happy day full of warmth and safety. Instead, it means abuse, neglect and loneliness. It breaks my heart to know that it can be nothing but a living nightmare for many of our young people across this country.

“Take a moment to think of all the young people in your community who could be going through this behind closed doors, alone, afraid, feeling unloved."

“At Childline, there is always someone there to listen, support and be there for them - while their world is crumbling around them.  

“Childline has long been a cause close to my heart and I know that their vital work makes a real and lasting difference. I am so proud to support this appeal and urge everyone to donate whatever they can to help ensure that Childline can remain a lifeline to children this Christmas.”     

To help Childline help those children whose Christmas dreams have turned to nightmares, go to https://donate.ispcc.ie/

*Names have been changed