​An average of 18 suicidal youngsters contact Childline in Scotland every week

A charity helpline has recorded a worrying spike in children thinking about suicide.

Childline says it has received more than 900 calls from suicidal youngsters over the past year.

The rise in Scotland is mirrored across the UK, said the NSPCC, which runs the service.

It received 934 calls and online inquiries from suicidal youngsters in Scotland - an average of 18 a week.

In many cases, counsellors were so concerned about their callers' welfare, they alerted the emergency services.

It is up to all of us to help children feel that life is worth living

Childline's annual report reveals that calls from young people reporting suicidal thoughts have more than doubled in five years.

A turbulent home life, abuse, school pressures and mental health problems were all major triggers for suicidal thoughts, it found.

The NSPCC said there was a "chronic shortage" of professional help across the UK for children suffering with mental health problems.

Many children are being forced to wait until they reach crisis point and the only place they can turn is Childline, the charity added.

Elaine Chalmers, Childline in Scotland's service head, said: "We have to understand why so many children are reaching such a desperate emotional state that they feel they have no option but to end their lives.

"As a society, we cannot be content that a generation of children feel so worthless, alone and cut off from support.

"It is up to all of us to help them feel that life is worth living.

"Children shouldering mental health problems often feel left in the shadows, their pain is not obviously visible and their injuries cannot be mended with bandages.

"We must listen to them, find out what is troubling them, and help them overcome their problems."

The NSPCC's It's Time campaign is calling on governments to invest in services to ensure all abused children receive the right support to prevent them developing mental health conditions.

TFNreported this week that half of Scotland’s health boards are failing to meet targets for waiting times for children to receive help with their mental health.

Stuart Jacob, a member of the Scottish Children's Services Coalition, said Childline's report is evidence of an "epidemic" in mental health problems for children and young people.

Mr Jacob, who is also a director of Falkland House School in Fife, said: "There is a chronic shortage of support and we desperately need to invest more in the face of greatly increased demand, with greater investment in prevention and early intervention, preventing such thoughts going on to have a significant and potentially fatal impact.

"If we are to give our young people the best possible start in life, we need to provide those requiring it with the care and support they so vitally need, when they need it."

Scottish Government mental health minister Maureen Watt said: "We have doubled the number of child and adolescent mental health service psychology posts and are investing an extra £150m in mental health over five years.

"The average wait for a CAMHS (child and adolescent mental health services) appointment in Scotland is ten weeks.

"However, in urgent cases like this where a child was experiencing suicidal thoughts we would expect them to be seen as a priority.

"We continue to support the vital service that Childline offers and this year provided nearly £200,000 to help them meet growing online demand."