In England they have a call center that children can call if they are in some sort of distress. The calls range from bullying to abuse and more. Some call and after getting something off their chest hang up prior to being able to get further help.
Here is how one call went:
10:45 AM Val, 50, gets a call from a tearful 12-year-old boy in Newcastle who is being bullied. “His tormentors were calling him names and threatening him,” she says. “We talked about keeping a diary and how to be more assertive. We also chatted about the fact that people often bully to get a reaction, and also ways that he can prevent the bullying by staying in the eye-sight of teachers.”
Some call about their friend. The number of calls in a year though are staggering.
- 32,000 children called last year about bullying
- 17,500 called about sexual abuse
- 23,000 about family problems
- 200 needed urgent help because they were suicidal
- Twice as many girls as boys call for help
Here in the USA I am not aware of a hotline that young people can call if they are being bullied. But I would like to open up this site for those in the community to tell us about what they may be going through and see if we can offer some words of help and encouragement for them.
Anyone who would like to help are welcomed to contact Balanced Life Skills and we will enable your participation.
