UK Edition
Children searching for online advice about being transgender, Childline survey reveals
Thousands of children are searching online for advice about being transgender, a new survey has revealed.
Researchers found that views on the transgender page of the Childline website have almost doubled in a year.
Views on the web page jumped from 6,867 between April 17-March 18 to 12,343 times between April 2018-March 2019. The transgender page on Childline website went live in December 2015.
Childline, which is run by the NSPCC, offers a 24-hour confidential helpline service for children.
Children as young as 11 now use the service to speak about their gender or sexual identity as well as their experiences of bullying and issues with their mental or emotional health.
One boy told counsellors: “I have been feeling depressed and suicidal for about three years. My parents don't understand me at all. I came out as Trans and they think it’s just a phase and refuse to accept me. I am in pain.”
The data also revealed that Childline carried out 6,014 counselling sessions with children and young people about issues relating to gender and sexuality last year - which equated to 16-a-day on average.
Among these counselling sessions, the service saw a 40 per cent increase in concerns about coming out. The figure rose from 1,508 counselling sessions in 2017/18 to 2,110 in 2018/19.
The most common age group to contact Childline about these issues were 12 to 15 year olds, and 409 of the counselling sessions were with 11-year-olds or younger.
Dame Esther Rantzen, Founder and President of Childline said: “I have met young people who were desperately unhappy because they couldn’t talk to anyone about issues regarding their sexuality or gender, and often turn to Childline because they fear they would lose their friends and be rejected by their families if they disclosed their feelings to them.
“So I am glad that they felt able to talk to Childline and reveal their feelings without being judged or stigmatised.
“I know that some adults feel uncomfortable talking about these issues with young people, but if we create a taboo around them, that can make children feel guilty, rejected and in some cases has even led to depression and even suicide. We all need to listen sensitively and support young people and protect them from this profound unhappiness and loneliness.”