NOW MORE than ever support needs to be offered to children, young people and families in need. The coronavirus pandemic has led to lockdowns around the world.

For young victims the stakes have become so much higher.

A volunteer, with three year’s experience, at a children’s charity has shared her story and given an idea of just what some young people may be encountering.

“Where  mental health  starts to decline is when they  can’t talk about their problems.”

Volunteer

She told The Voice: “Right now young people will be suffering with heightened anxiety.  Certainly they will be additionally stressed out by the global news.

“Some will be worried about their futures. Those that have existing mental issues, that’s just going to sky rocket and with that comes an escalation of self harm, thoughts of suicide and actual suicide attempts.

“For many young people  who I talk to, it is unimaginable as some of them are going to be confined at home  with their abusers, with no reprieve through school or socialising with their friends. Every problem  that existed before with them will now escalate.

“Even children that come from stable backgrounds, and didn’t previously have any mental health issues, will be affected and  they are contacting us as first time users.”

Assist

The volunteer, who wished to remain anonymous, is well placed to assist young people in need of a listening ear, having suffered with her own domestic trauma in the past.

“I do so much meditation. There are reasons why I’m into child protection, safeguarding and wellbeing. A lot has to do with my own experiences.

“I’ve had to work on my own childhood demons and trauma. You couldn’t really provide support  if you were being triggered by the painful circumstances of these young people.

“All this helps as it makes you strong. It’s about using your experiences in an empathic and positive way.”

Those that provide a listening ear for young people who wish to talk, need their outlets too.

The volunteer added: “After our counselling sessions we have a 30 minute debrief. We don’t discuss details of our calls but you are there to tell people how you feel and let go of it if it has negatively impacted you.

“There is a lot of support and aftercare for the volunteers. However, in addition, I meditate if I’ve been triggered. I find it comforting for me to come home and restore mental and emotional balance and let go fully of any stresses that have arisen.

“I’m not saying that I don’t need anybody, but coming home is my preference.

“It’s rare that I feel overwhelmed.   Once or twice,  (while providing counselling) I’ve left  the room, gone  somewhere private and burst into tears because I just think how can such a beautiful soul be subjected to all of that negativity.

“You end up pulling yourself together.  When I get home I let go of it.

“The shift  is always challenging. You absolutely need empathy for the role but finding the balance between necessary empathy and becoming overwhelmed is crucial for your own wellbeing.”

Pressure

The coronavirus pandemic has ensured that some vulnerable young people have more pressure than ever to deal with because of lockdown.

“We have a really, really high volume of first time users coming through now, more than usual.” admitted the volunteer.

“Sometimes they do want a solution and often you have to find a way of encouraging them to think of what they would like the outcome to look like.

“So you get them to engage with their imagination. Some of them don’t know what they want and some do actually say what they want to happen.

“We listen out for high risk, so if there is imminent danger or planned danger we try and de-escalate the risk in the first instance.

“If there is imminent danger we will need to intervene and breach confidentiality.

“For someone to share their innermost secret or perceived shame takes enormous courage and trust in who they are speaking to.

“It’s not unusual for a young person to contact us multiple times before they even begin to tell you what’s troubling them.

“The first service we provide is to be there so they don’t feel alone, even if we can’t be there physically.”

Volunteer

“The first service we provide is to be there so they don’t feel alone, even if we can’t be there physically. But we can be there in terms of listening to what they are saying and reminding them that their wellbeing and safety is important and they deserve help.”

Apart from potential and real physical danger, some of the aforementioned young people have to endure mental abuse too.

“Where  mental health  starts to decline is when they  can’t talk about their problems,” the volunteer says.

“So that’s where the power is, when they can open up and talk. And that’s part of our promise. It’s confidential*(*under certain circumstances, confidentiality will be breached if a child’s safety is at risk) and we don’t judge.

“If they have been abused, often  it is their belief that they deserve it or that it is their fault in the first place. The abuser will generally make them feel that way. It is crucial to emphasise to them that the abuse is never their fault and they did not deserve it.”

NOTE: The volunteer urged young people in need to call 0800 11 11 from a landline if it is possible, a telephone number that will never appear on a household bill.

Further advice can be sought via Barnardos, Childline and NSPCC.

Readers in the US can seek further support and advice from Prevent Child Abuse. www.barnardos.org.uk/