SUMMARY OF CALLS MADE DURING 2009

Highlights

• During 2009, 138,934 calls were answered by 0800WHATSUP counsellors, a drop of 6,126 calls from 2008 and about 27% of the total calls received during 2009 (509,414). The decrease in answered calls is a consequence of financial constraints limiting the ability of the service to employ counsellors and pay the telecommunications cost.

• Almost equal numbers of girls and boys called 0800WHATSUP, with the number of girls being slightly higher.

• The average age of callers is just 13.53 years and 37% were 12 years or younger.

• 83% of callers surveyed report their talk with the What’s Up counsellor was “quite” or “very” helpful.

• The five most commonly presented issues of concern vary little from year to year, although in 2009 mental health displaced pregnancy in the fifth position.

• More than half of all counselling calls involve concerns about relationships with other peer, family, partners or other significant figures in the child’s or young person’s life.

• Bullying remains the second most frequent issue for What’s Up callers; the proportion of calls about severe bullying did not continue to drop in 2009.

• In 2009, more children and young people called about family breakdown and emotional problems, in particular loneliness.

• More than half of the callers using tobacco were seeking help to quit, suggesting more young callers want to quit the habit.

Click here to view or download the complete report (570kB)