Surge in Childline calls on bullying and pregnancy

The number of calls to the Childline service from young people worried about pregnancy and bullying increased more than any other category last year, figures show.

Calls relating to pregnancy increased 71 per cent last year compared with 2004, while calls about bullying increased by 53 per cent.

The Childline service saw a 13 per cent increase in 2005 in the number of calls it handled compared with 2004. Some 203,593 calls were answered, though it received 706,085 calls. Though the service has doubled its capacity in the past three years, it was concerned at the numbers not getting through.

"Childline answered one in three calls during the week and one in four at the weekend," said the charity. Almost 10 per cent concerned sexual issues, 3.7 per cent were about physical abuse, 3.7 per cent were about sexual abuse and 4.7 per cent concerned pregnancy. Of specific concern are pregnancy and bullying, according to the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, which operates Childline.

"Calls that concerned pregnancy issues rose from 3,254 calls in 2004 to 5,567 in 2005. These calls illustrate the pressures young people find themselves under in terms of early sexualisation, while lacking the maturity and knowledge they need to make informed decisions," it said.

In 2004 there were 3,462 calls regarding bullying, a figure that rose to 5,283 last year.

The charity said that while bullying had always been an issue, "it is important to note that bullying can also now involve the use of mobile phones and the internet".

Childline is available on 1800 666 666.