Children at risk - Childline calls ring alarm bells

THE disquieting news that nearly 1,000 children felt so lonely on Christmas Day that they felt moved enough to contact support services offered by Childline puts our celebrations and tinsel in a context we might never have imagined or wished.

As the majority of us — we hope — passed the day happily with loved ones, friends or family, Childline answered 672 calls from unhappy, troubled young people on Tuesday.

These young people felt so alone, so isolated and removed from the organised, mandatory optimism all around them that they sought the comfort offered by faceless strangers on the end of the phone line. A text service for deaf teenagers had more than 130 contacts.