ChildLine campaign urges boys to seek advice earlier

The children's charity ChildLine has highlighted the plight of young boys in distress today to mark its 17th birthday today, saying that very often boys were at breaking point by the time they contacted the organisation.

For the launch of its 'Boys Allowed' campaign, the charity published research showing that "far fewer boys than girls call ChildLine" - and that when boys do call, they have often suffered in silence for so long that they are near breaking point.

More boys and young men contact ChildLine about their problems and worries than any other organisation – ChildLine’s confidential helpline is a crucial source of support for more than 26,000 boys each year. However, they represent just under a quarter of total calls to the charity, leaving many others vulnerable to prolonged suffering.

ChildLine’s campaign will explore the obstacles that prevent boys from asking for help – and ensure that their voices are heard, the charity said.

Margaret Hodge, the Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families, who is backing the campaign, said: "Too often we all fail to acknowledge and recognise the pressures facing boys and young men. Too often there is nobody to whom they can turn, either to talk to them or to work out how to deal with the situation.

"I welcome the new campaign by ChildLine to help boys and young men tell someone if they are facing any problems."

Counselling supervisor Hazel Norbury, who has been with ChildLine for 11 years, said: "Boys usually want a swift way to 'fix' their problem; they want honest, direct answers and, as a counsellor, you often don’t get the same opportunity to explore the whole situation as much as you do with girls.

"Lots of times when boys call, the problem has become so bad, so severe, that they can’t keep it inside anymore. I always feel that, if a boy actually calls us, stakes are high – this is it, he really needs someone."

ChildLine’s six-month awareness raising campaign has been launched with the publication of a new report exploring what boys tell ChildLine about their lives.

(gmcg)