ChildLine reports dramatic rise in counselling session given to youngsters who have experienced online sexual abuse
The number of young people being counselled by ChildLine about online sexual abuse rose by 168% in the last year.
In 2013/14 the charity carried out 2,842 sessions with victims across the UK compared to 1061 in 2012/13.
Online sexual abuse includes children receiving sexually explicit messages or being blackmailed into sending images of themselves.
The figures published in ChildLine’s annual report also show a 34% increase in young people talking to ChildLine about mental health conditions including hallucinations, delusions and panic attacks.
The number of counselling sessions it carried out in total was 290,979, similar to in 2012/13.
We have seen a huge rise in the number of children suffering from mental health issues, leading to such serious problems as depression, self-harm and most devastatingly, suicidal thoughts
In Scotland the charity carried out 54,096 counselling sessions, either online or over the phone, with more than 18,000 children saying they suffered from low self-esteem and unhappiness – making it the number one issue.
For the first time school and education problems appeared in the top 10.
Over 6,500 people spoke to the charity’s counsellors regarding problems such as exam stress.
Problems with family relationships, self-harm, sex or sexual health, and physical abuse also made the top 10.
ChildLine founder Dame Esther Rantzen said: "Although this review paints a distressing picture of childhood in Britain today, a message of hope is also contained in it.
“At least now vulnerable children have somewhere to speak to, some support to turn to, and they know that ChildLine cares about them and listens to them.
“It is clear that a cluster of problems, such as unhappiness in the family home, the increase in self-harm and eating disorders, the unrelenting intrusion of cyber bullying and the pressures at school are having a damaging effect on our children's mental wellbeing.
"We have seen a huge rise in the number of children suffering from mental health issues, leading to such serious problems as depression, self-harm and most devastatingly, suicidal thoughts.
"We must not only understand how to encourage young people to speak about their unhappiness, and treat these conditions more effectively, but also face up to the reality that far too many of the nation's children seem to be struggling alone and in despair.”
The ChildLine website received over 3 million visits last year, 29% more than in 2012/13.
Four times as many girls received counselling sessions as boys.
Meanwhile, a Home Office report has called for the extent of historic child exploitation in Scotland to be investigated.
The UK government department is currently investigating how the allegations of child sex abuse were dealt with by authorities in England and Wales following a number of high profile cases including the systematic sexual abuse of 1400 young girls in Rotherham.
The Home Office committee report said: "We recommend that the scope of the inquiry be extended to include cases of abuse in Scotland and Northern Ireland, where there is reason to believe that material relevant to the case might be held by the UK Government.
"The terms of reference for the original Panel confined the scope of its inquiry to England and Wales, with an undertaking that any relevant material would be passed to the devolved administrations.
"Several people have suggested to us that the scope of the inquiry should be extended to include the whole of the United Kingdom."
