The number of children seeking help from the Childline charity because of concerns about the Coronavirus has surged, it has emerged.
NSPCC help and advice service provided 101 counselling sessions with children and young people concerned about the global pandemic at Northern Ireland’s two bases in Belfast and Derry.
Support for children worried about the virus hit a peak on March 18 - the day British Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed UK schools would shut.
According to the charity, one teenage girl told a counsellor: " I feel really anxious, upset and lonely. The news has made my mental health worse but my CAMHS appointment has been cancelled and school has closed.
"I'm stuck at home having a horrible time because my sisters are bullying me because I'm autistic."
Mairead Monds, Childline service manager for Belfast, said: “The 24/7 news cycle about Coronavirus is causing huge worry and anxiety in young people – particularly those who are already coping with many other issues in their lives."
Meanwhile across the UK, 900 counselling sessions took place with children and young people the spread of Covid-19, nearly two thirds of which took place last week between March 16-22, as parents started working from home and school closures were announced.
Another girl told Childline: " My mum is being very distant with me and I am usually very close to her, it's really upsetting me. My mum and I have a good relationship but she's really obsessed with the news and she won't hug me or get very close to me.
"It scares me to think this will go on for months.
"She constantly talks about the Coronavirus and my anxiety is getting worse."
It is understood that most of the young people that have been using the support service are girls between the ages of 12-15-year-old.
Monds added: “Childline provides an essential service to vulnerable children, some of whom may be in a life-threatening situation, which is why our staff and volunteers are working tirelessly to keep Childline running.
“While we are all facing events unprecedented in modern time keeping children safe and providing them with a space to talk about their concerns is our number one priority.”
