week 12- Online pressures creating 'nation of deeply unhappy children', says charity

Figures released by counselling service ChildLine reveal low self-esteem to be among most prevalent problems reported by today’s young people

Britain’s children are “deeply unhappy” and have to deal with fears and worries that did not exist 30 years ago, a charity has warned.

Modern pressures such as cyberbullying and social media are affecting children’s confidence and self-esteem, according to ChildLine, the confidential counselling service run by the NSPCC.

In 1986, when the 24-hour helpline began, children’s biggest concerns were sexual abuse, family problems, physical abuse and pregnancy, according to ChildLine’s figures.

Last year, the main issues raised were family relationships, low self-esteem and unhappiness, bullying (including cyberb.ullying) and self-harm.

Overall, 35,244 of the counselling sessions held by the service in 2014/15 were related to low self-esteem and unhappiness – up 9% on the previous year. The number of sessions the helpline runs each year has risen dramatically in the three decades since it was founded – from 23,530 in 1986/87 to 286,812 in 2014/15.

Less than one in three of ChildLine’s counselling sessions were conduction over the phone last year, the charity said, while 71% involved email or online chat.