Kids Helpline reveals heartbreaking calls from Australian kids who need help in lockdown

Kids Helpline counsellors have told of the shocking calls they are getting from young kids who are desperate for help. WARNING: Distressing

A distraught nine-year-old boy wanting to die after losing a beloved pet.

A 12-year-old girl left to look after five siblings, including a baby, with alcoholic parents in lockdown.

A suicidal teenager alone and desperate in a tiny apartment with nothing but the clothes in her suitcase.

These are some of the heartbreaking calls being taken by underseiged Kids Helpine counsellors who fielded nearly 10,000 calls last week – including calls from 3277 kids in locked-down NSW, 2663 in Victoria and 1583 in Queensland.

Kids Helpline has doubled the number of counsellors since the start of the pandemic last March, with 200 staff trained to counsel, calm and console distraught children as young as five.

The counsellors are on duty around the clock at the frontline of a mental health epidemic among the children and teenagers growing up in the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cooped up with stressed parents and struggling with schoolwork, children are suffering unprecedented levels of anxiety and depression that is tragically leading to self-harm or suicide.

“Archie’’, who works as a counsellor at the Kids Helpline, recently called an ambulance to help a suicidal teenager. Picture: Liam Kidston

Emergencies happen five times a day, on average, when counsellors must call an ambulance, police or child safety staff to rescue a child in immediate danger of harm.

Kids Helpline NSW Service Manager Sarah Van Bentum said the stress was starting to rub off on staff working in lockdown themselves.

“In this lockdown we’re seeing calls that are a lot more complex, they’re longer, they require us calling police and working with child protection and ambulances,’’ Ms Van Bentum said.

“Counsellors are feeling like the front line of defence.

“They’re supporting a young person struggling with mental health, but at the same time balancing their own similar journey around uncertainty.’’

Ms Van Bentum said many children were having trouble adapting to home learning.

“Young people are struggling with home schooling and relationships with their family,’’ she said.

“Older children are having to look after younger children and help them with their homework.’’

“Ellanor’’, who uses a pseudonym for privacy reasons, monitors some of the worst crisis calls.

“We had a nine-year-old the other week who accidentally killed his pet and then got on the phone to say he was thinking of suicide,’’ she said.

“I’ve heard of a 12-year-old looking after five kids – the youngest kid being one.

“When children are that young, we call Child Safety.’’

Ellanor said many children called saying they were “not coping’’ with the pandemic.

“They just feel helpless, frustrated and worried,’’ she said.

“It’s layer upon layer of unknown for them – it gets exhausting.

“They feel like they’re freaking out one day, and can’t get out of bed the next.’’

Kids Helpline NSW Service Manager Sarah Van Bentum. Picture: Supplied

Ellanor said children felt that society did not understand how hard it was for them to live through a pandemic when they could not go to school, visit a playground or see their friends.

For children with violent parents, she said, “the government is saying you can’t leave the house, and you’re abuser’s in the house’’.

“They’re told to stay home to keep the (Covid-19) numbers under control, but look at rates of domestic violence – it’s going to blow up somewhere else,’’ she said.

“When kids start going back to school, reports to child protection are going to skyrocket.’’

“Archie’’, who works as a counsellor at the Kids Helpline headquarters in Brisbane, recently called an ambulance to help a suicidal teenager who had been moving interstate for work but got trapped by border closures.

“She had nothing but a bag of clothes,’’ he said.

“Can you imagine being a young person in lockdown, stuck in your room without being able to see your friends, maybe not having access to a teacher?

“It’s a really isolating situation.

“Young people are really being forgotten.’’

Kids Helpline counsellors at work. Picture: Supplied

Archie said many children are struggling with lockdown isolation and anxiety over catching Covid-19.

“Some might be thinking about ending their life, feeling disappointed and hopeless about not achieving well at school,’’ he said.

“Today I had a mum calling about a four-year-old who shared some serious thoughts about ending his life, not being able to go outside and play with his friends.’’

Archie sometimes needs to take a break between “some really intense calls’’.

“I’m human – there are times when you do feel affected by calls,’’ he said.

“But I feel so grateful I can do the work I do and be there for young people who need support, and help them see they’re not alone.

“It’s great they’re reaching out for support.’’

If you need help call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800

To donate: www.yourtown.com.au

Originally published as Kids Helpline reveals heartbreaking calls from Australian kids who need help in lockdown