It is not festive for everyone.

We have just put Christmas 2021 behind us, and while for most of us, these days mean family, fun, presents, good food and a warm, cosy home – this is not the case for everyone in Ireland.

According to Childline, their volunteers took over 1,000 calls across Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and St Stephen’s Day, with family conflict, mental health and self-harm among the issues faced by those contacting the service.

The 24-hour line is provided by the ISPCC, and offers children a free, non-judgemental and non-directive service, and this year, Childline explains, many children “did not wake up to the kind of Christmas Day they had dreamed of.”

Speaking on RTÉ’s News At One, Chief Executive John Church said that Christmas was like a “mini lockdown” for some children and can be a time that tests their capacity to cope.

“Christmas was another busy year for Childline, no busier than it is any other day. We see tensions coming to the surface in children’s homes as well as challenges to mental health.”

Not every child sees Christmas as magical

Christmas is a time of magic for most children and their families, but unfortunately, as Childline’s volunteers can confirm, this is not the case for every child in this country.

“Tensions may have come to the surface in their homes, they may have struggled with challenges to their mental and emotional health, or there may have been an empty place at their table due to bereavement,” Church explains.

“No matter what is on the mind of a child or young person on any day or night of the year, Childline is here to listen to them, believe them, support and empower them. This is made possible with thanks to the exceptional dedication of our Childline volunteers.

“We are hugely grateful to them for their generosity in giving up their time at Christmas to help make sure every child and young person has somewhere they can turn.

“On behalf of all the children and young people who Childline supports, we would like to say thank you to the people of Ireland for all they do to help keep the service here 24 hours a day, every day.

“At a time when many of the fundraising events on which we rely each year have not been possible, we are sincerely grateful to everyone who has donated or found innovative new ways of raising funds to keep us here for children.”

Children worry about Covid again

Church also revealed that more calls are being made again from children with concerns about Covid-19.

“We’re getting more and more Covid related calls. In March 2020, Covid was coming across in every single call, with children worried about contracting Covid or loved ones contracting Covid.

“It had calmed down a lot over the summer but now we saw a second Covid Christmas so calls are more about Covid again.

“It’s the anxiety and uncertainty we’re seeing coming through. With cases increasing that has a knock on affect as children were starting to call us and talk to us”.

Childline can be contacted either at Childline.ie, by calling 1800 66 66 66, or by sending a text to 50101.