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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| 'I felt so low, I couldn't see a way out' | 'I felt so low, I couldn't see a way out' |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| "To get to my school I had to cross a railway bridge and I would just stand there and think 'I could just jump off'. | "To get to my school I had to cross a railway bridge and I would just stand there and think 'I could just jump off'. |
| "It felt overwhelming and like I was alone. I just felt so, so low, I couldn't see a way out." | "It felt overwhelming and like I was alone. I just felt so, so low, I couldn't see a way out." |
| Calleigh, now 18, was self-harming when she was 11 and first thought about taking her own life when she was 13. | Calleigh, now 18, was self-harming when she was 11 and first thought about taking her own life when she was 13. |
| "I didn't want to tell my parents because I thought they would be worried and disappointed or not understand." | "I didn't want to tell my parents because I thought they would be worried and disappointed or not understand." |
| Calleigh's story comes as the charity Childline says it has carried out its highest number of counselling sessions with young people having suicidal thoughts and feelings. | Calleigh's story comes as the charity Childline says it has carried out its highest number of counselling sessions with young people having suicidal thoughts and feelings. |
| But the helpline says it can answer only three out of every four calls and urgently needs more volunteers. | But the helpline says it can answer only three out of every four calls and urgently needs more volunteers. |
| In 2016-17, a total of 22,456 sessions were given to children in the UK thinking about taking their own life - up from 19,481 the year before. | In 2016-17, a total of 22,456 sessions were given to children in the UK thinking about taking their own life - up from 19,481 the year before. |
| More than 2,000 contacts were with young people who had already taken steps to end their lives, such as writing a note, giving meaningful items away or even planning their death. | More than 2,000 contacts were with young people who had already taken steps to end their lives, such as writing a note, giving meaningful items away or even planning their death. |
| For Calleigh, a perfectionist nature, coupled with extensive pressure from a high-achieving school, meant she sank to a very low point. | For Calleigh, a perfectionist nature, coupled with extensive pressure from a high-achieving school, meant she sank to a very low point. |
| But making contact with Childline proved to be a lifeline - literally. | But making contact with Childline proved to be a lifeline - literally. |
| "I was able to talk to someone, they were able to say, 'OK, what's making you feel like this? Take one step at a time' and they're just so supportive. | "I was able to talk to someone, they were able to say, 'OK, what's making you feel like this? Take one step at a time' and they're just so supportive. |
| "I'd call them when I wanted to self-harm. I would message them - they've got amazing messageboards - it's like a forum but it's safe, you're not going to get bad messages and there are so many other people that are feeling the same way." | "I'd call them when I wanted to self-harm. I would message them - they've got amazing messageboards - it's like a forum but it's safe, you're not going to get bad messages and there are so many other people that are feeling the same way." |
| What should you do if you feel like this? | What should you do if you feel like this? |
| Calleigh says it's important to seek help - and to remember that there doesn't always have to be a reason for feeling at breaking point. | Calleigh says it's important to seek help - and to remember that there doesn't always have to be a reason for feeling at breaking point. |
| "I'd say you definitely can't bottle it up, because that makes it so much worse - just talk to someone, even if it's online. | "I'd say you definitely can't bottle it up, because that makes it so much worse - just talk to someone, even if it's online. |
| "Talking to someone who's not in the problem, who you know is not going to judge you or worry - because my main problem was 'I don't want my parents to worry, there's so much stress' - and just knowing that you're not alone and that it's not your fault. | "Talking to someone who's not in the problem, who you know is not going to judge you or worry - because my main problem was 'I don't want my parents to worry, there's so much stress' - and just knowing that you're not alone and that it's not your fault. |
| "And there doesn't have to be a reason, it doesn't have to be that you were bullied, it doesn't have to be pressure, it could just be you feel numb because you feel numb." | "And there doesn't have to be a reason, it doesn't have to be that you were bullied, it doesn't have to be pressure, it could just be you feel numb because you feel numb." |
| What does the future hold? | What does the future hold? |
| Childline founder and president Dame Esther Rantzen says it's vital to find out why so many young people are feeling so desperate. | Childline founder and president Dame Esther Rantzen says it's vital to find out why so many young people are feeling so desperate. |
| "When Childline launched over 30 years ago, I remember children usually felt suicidal because they were being hurt by someone. | "When Childline launched over 30 years ago, I remember children usually felt suicidal because they were being hurt by someone. |
| "Now young people tell us they are overwhelmed by mental health issues taking them to the brink of suicide. | "Now young people tell us they are overwhelmed by mental health issues taking them to the brink of suicide. |
| "We must discover why so many of our young people feel so isolated they turn to Childline, because they believe no one else cares about them." | "We must discover why so many of our young people feel so isolated they turn to Childline, because they believe no one else cares about them." |
| Calleigh wants to see much more done to raise the profile of mental health issues. | Calleigh wants to see much more done to raise the profile of mental health issues. |
| "I strongly feel that teachers, parents and support staff need to know more about mental health and they need to look out for the signs." | "I strongly feel that teachers, parents and support staff need to know more about mental health and they need to look out for the signs." |
| In the meantime, Dame Esther is urging members of the public to come forward as volunteer counsellors for Childline. | In the meantime, Dame Esther is urging members of the public to come forward as volunteer counsellors for Childline. |
| "Anyone who can lend a few hours to this vital service could end up saving a child's life." | "Anyone who can lend a few hours to this vital service could end up saving a child's life." |
| Help can be found by ringing the Childline helpline on 0800 1111 or via the Childline website. | Help can be found by ringing the Childline helpline on 0800 1111 or via the Childline website. |