Självmordsgenerationen är här: 5-åringar skriker efter hjälp

The alarming decline in the mental health of Britain's youth was revealed today after it emerged that suicidal children as young as five contacted ChildLine.

The charity reported that nearly four out of five calls about suicide last year were from girls.

One in six of some 6,000 calls from youngsters to the helpline about mental health problems came from girls who talked about suicide.

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Calls came from children as young as five, the charity said.

Of the 1,009 calls from girls who discussed suicide, some called the 24-hour NSPCC-run service while trying to take their own lives.

Others said they had already tried to kill themselves and were contemplating another attempt.

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"The number of children who rang to talk about mental health issues last year could have filled 250 classrooms, so it's a big problem."

She said that while the charity could give immediate advice to youngsters, it was clear that those who called with serious problems may need more intensive support.

She continued: "At the moment, there are simply not enough therapeutic services for children with these problems, and we are urging the Government to give this issue urgent attention."

Eating problems featured high on the list of mental health concerns, with 1,854 girls and 158 boys calling for help and advice.

Some told how they wanted to lose weight after being bullied. Another 725 called about self-harm, with many explaining they believed it helped them cope with other problems.

Family difficulties encountered by many of the callers included living with someone suffering with mental health problems or with parents who were abusive, neglectful or drank too much.

One youngster told a ChildLine counsellor: "Mum has been on anti-depressants for years.

"The doctor wants her to keep taking them but she's stopped. It's really scary. I feel like I've had to raise myself - it's made me lonely and depressed."

Another felt that no-one cared, saying: "I've taken some tablets and drunk a bottle of vodka. There's no point. No-one cares about me.

"My mum didn't even notice that I've self-harmed. I have nothing to feel good about any more." ¹

Det är tragiskt att se utvecklingen av ett degenerativt samhälle där trygghet, stabilitet och hälsa är tre begrepp som antingen utdöms eller ignoreras.