We’ve launched a campaign to let children know that lonely feelings don’t need to last.
Day in the Lonely uses day-in-the-life videos to show how three young people experience loneliness.
The videos highlight the ways in which Childline can help young people, including by email and through our message boards. All the videos are based on real-life calls to the service.
Through Day in the Lonely, we’re encouraging young people, with the support of their parents, to speak about their mental health issues early on, so they don’t escalate to crisis point.
Retailer Lidl GB is supporting the campaign and has raised funds for Childline since 2020.
Calls about loneliness are still high
As the campaign launches, new Childline data shows that the service is contacted on average 15 times a day by children struggling with loneliness. Between April 2021 and March 2022, Childline delivered 5,564 counselling sessions on this issue.
Counselling sessions on loneliness peaked during the height of the pandemic, with the service supporting more than 6,000 children and young people who were feeling lonely. Since then, counselling sessions on the issue have dropped slightly but still remain high.
Children and young people can contact Childline for free, confidential support and advice 24 hours a day online at childline.org.uk or by phone on 0800 1111.