Childline received over 1,300 calls, texts and messages on Christmas Day this year, up almost 40 per cent from the same day in 2010.
According to the figures released today by the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the listening service was contacted by 1,387 youngsters on Christmas Day.
The figure represents a 38 per cent increase on the number of contacts received by the service 12 months earlier.
National Childline Manager, Margie Roe, said that the majority of calls made this year by children were because of family difficulties and loneliness.
However, she added that children who used the service expressed a wide variety of reasons for contacting one of the 85 volunteers available on the helpline throughout Christmas Day.
“We also had children who had used the service this year, contacting us to let us know that they were doing okay and to say thanks,” she said.
The increase in calls, texts and messages was somewhat expected by the society who said yesterday that there had been an “escalating demand” for all of their services throughout 2011.
In a statement released today, the society said that through its work with families during 2011, they were aware that it had been another year of extreme financial pressure and hardship for many.
Young people are very aware of the difficulties their parents face each day, the statement went on to say, adding that this year many children have talked to Childline about the issue and the impact that the resulting stress can have on family relationships.
“At this time of year Childline is always concerned about the children whose ideal Christmas is far from the reality that they experience. For some of the children that we speak to every Christmas, what they want and need is to be happy, to be loved, to feel special and to have a Christmas worth remembering.
“For most children, Christmas is a time to have fun and spend time with family. For many others however, the reality is very different and Christmas can be a time to fear. The season can bring unwelcome stress and trauma and alcohol abuse in the home can also have a hugely negative impact on children,” she said.
This year, the society’s Christmas campaign attempted to reminded people that “every child has the right to sleep in peace this Christmas”.
However, Ms Roe said that unfortunately we know from young people contacting Childline that many are not afforded this right.
She added that while Childline was not be able to solve all the issues that children contacted them about on Christmas Day, the service was able to show these children that they are cared about and that a helpline will always be there when it is needed.
To contact Childline call 1800 666666 or text “Talk” to 50101.