Childline Cork office recorded spike in contacts over Easter holidays  

Childline’s Cork office saw a spike in contacts over Easter, with 1,000 people reaching out to volunteers in the three days, with 20 of those contacts discussing suicide.

The ISPCC has launched an appeal to help children in need of support, saying: “The Easter break should be a time of joy for children, a time of fun with family, getting a break from school and over-indulging in chocolate eggs. But for many young people who turn to Childline, Easter is an endurance test.”

Aoife Griffin, the Cork-based services manager for ISPCC, told The Echo they often see spikes in calls whenever children are off school. “Any time kids are without the structure of school or activities, plus there’s the added pressure of what a perfect holiday is supposed to look like.

“Common issues include things around family relationships, fights at home, plans that were promised but didn’t happen. Feelings of loneliness and anxiety, feeling left out from their friends who might have trips planned; some feel suicidal.”

Volunteers who take calls follow Children First guidelines, and if they know a child is in danger and also know their location, they get in touch with emergency services.

“But we don’t always know that. It’s up to them to give us their details; we don’t force it out. We can signpost them to other services like Pieta or Jigsaw if they’re not ready for emergency services, but just listening is a big thing. It might be the first time they’ve ever reached out to anyone, and we’ll always encourage them to tell someone in their own lives.”

Extra volunteers are required during holidays. No experience is needed to become a Childline volunteer.

“We have a Cork office, and we have people aged 20 to 70, in college or retired, men, women, and everything in between. Full training is given over a nine-week period, and you’re always on shift with other volunteers, so you’re never alone.”

• See the ISPCC’s website.