Alex's Answer

Hi, welcome to Ask Alex. Thank you for trusting us with your thoughts and for sharing what is going on for you.

 

You mentioned that a girl you met on Snapchat is being abused. We are concerned to hear that a girl you met on Snapchat is experiencing abuse, and we want to let you know that this is not okay, as no one has the right to hurt anyone. You are very brave to reach out to Ask Alex – well done! All children living in Ireland have the right to be protected and kept safe from harm. They also have the right to get help when someone is abusing them in any way.

 

We are wondering if you would consider talking to a trusted adult about this. This could be someone within your family, such as a parent, an aunt/uncle, an older sibling, or someone outside of the family, such as a teacher, a friend, a youth worker, or a school counsellor. Speaking to an adult who can listen to what is going on may be beneficial and it might help this girl.

 

If you feel comfortable, you could make this girl aware of her rights. She has the right to get in touch with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency in Ireland. The social workers within Tusla are there for young people under the age of 18 years old, and their job is to ensure that children and young people are safe at home. You can find your local Tusla office here: www.tusla.ie/get-in-touch/local-area-offices/ if you would like to get in touch with them or get information. You may need the support of an adult to help you with this. You could also let her know that she has the right to call emergency services on 999 if she is in immediate danger.

 

Childline is here for you, and we would love to chat with you more about what is going on. You can reach out to us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and our services are free and confidential. You can talk to us by phone at 1800 66 66 66, or chat with us one-to-one on our Live Chat at www.childline.ie . We will not judge anything you say to us or tell you what to do. We will explore what options may be available to you, with you.

 

Thank you for getting in touch with your question, and please contact us again if there is anything else you would like help with at any stage.

 

Take care,

Alex