Scots twice as likely to fear drinking parents

Published on Sunday 8 November 2009 21:40

MORE than 200 children called a confidential helpline last year with concerns about their parents harmful drinking.

And the rate of calls to ChildLine is twice as high in Scotland as the rest of the UK, a study released yesterday reveals.

The majority of youngsters reporting concerns over their parents' drinking also talked about physical abuse and other family problems.

Elaine Chalmers, head of ChildLine in Scotland, said: "Harmful parental drinking can dominate family relationships and affect children's wellbeing in every aspect of their lives.

"Often children are experiencing problems against a backdrop of family separation and loss which they frequently recognise as causing their parents drinking to escalate.

"Fear, anxiety and chronic worry about their parents or siblings also have a significant impact on their mental health and wellbeing."

More than 2,000 youngsters have contacted ChildLine in the past decade in Scotland to talk about their parents' harmful drinking. And the number of calls from Scotland could be much higher as many youngsters do not give their location on the confidential line.

Dr Evelyn Gillan, director of Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP), said the greater prevalence of calls in Scotland is in line with the rate of alcohol related deaths which are twice as high north of the border.

Dr Gillan, co-author of the study said: "What is particularly sad is that many children experience a loss of childhood because they often take on caring responsibilities such as looking after brothers or sisters and this can prevent children doing normal childhood activities."

The report by ChildLine and SHAAP recommends better access to safe places for young people to talk about their problems, as well as better awareness of the impact of parental drinking on the family.