3,000 called Childline last year in mental distress

More than 3,000 children who called Childline last year had serious mental health needs and more than 500 were described as being “in crisis”, it has emerged.

“Even if we knew who these children were and reported them, they could be waiting a year for mental health services,” said ISPCC director of services Caroline O’Sullivan.

It emerged last week that three out of four teenage girls who died by suicide recently were known to child protection services and had been on lengthy waiting lists for psychology services.