New statistics have revealed that a total of 1,302 children on the Isle of Wight are known to social services – abuse and neglect has been identified as a factor in some 533 cases.
In just 4 years the number of children in need on the Island has risen from 645 in 2012 to 1,302 in 2016, with the number of referrals to the local authority increasing from 1,792 to 2,389 in the same period.
An NSPCC spokesperson for London and the south east has today (Friday) said:
“It’s deeply troubling that the number of children in need has risen by 105% in 4 years. The number of referrals to the local authority has also increased by 33%.
“Abuse and neglect was identified as a factor in 553 children in need cases on the Isle of Wight.
“We know that 9 in 10 children who have been abused go on to suffer mental health problems before they reach the age of 18.
“Mental health problems can be devastating whether they affect the child in need, or their family members at home.
“The NSPCC’s It’s Time campaign has called on the Government to provide improved mental health support for children who have experienced abuse to help them understand and recover from their experiences.”
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Any child struggling with mental health, whether their own or the mental health of a loved one, can call Childline on 0800 11 11.
