MORE than 700 children in Wales have received counselling sessions from Childline about suicide in the past year, according to figures from NSPCC Cymru.
Suicidal thoughts and feelings was one of the most common reasons for children in Wales to contact the children’s helpline.
The 769 counselling sessions carried out is a rise of 20 per cent, from the previous year’s figure of 614.
Across the UK the NSPCC’s round-the-clock service delivered 22,456 counselling sessions – up 15 per cent from the previous year - with children, the youngest aged 10, who were tormented by suicidal thoughts.
The NSPCC is now calling on members of the public to volunteer as Childline counsellors. By offering their time they could help a child and even potentially save a life.
“We have never seen figures like these before and they are a blunt wake up call,” said Des Mannion, head of NSPCC Cymru/ Wales.
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