Voices of Children & Young People Around the World – Global Child Helpline Data from 2023 is our latest annual publication showcasing the vital work of child helplines worldwide. This report represents the collective efforts of 80 child helpline members in 73 countries, capturing millions of contacts and providing invaluable insights into the realities children and young people face daily.
The data in this report highlights how child helplines play an essential role in child protection systems. Acting as a first point of contact, they offer immediate support, guide children to appropriate services, and serve as a critical early warning system. The comprehensive and globally diverse data collected by our members offers a unique perspective on the challenges affecting children and young people.
Key insights from the 2023 data reveal concerning trends, including a 28% rise in mental health-related contacts since 2020, with issues such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts increasingly being reported. The latter is of a special concern for children and young people who identify as nonbinary – suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts accounted for 1 in 10 of their contacts.
Violence also remains one of the most common reasons for contact, with significant increases in reports of physical and sexual violence.
The stories behind these numbers show us children and young people’s resilience and strength in seeking help, and remind us why we must prioritize listening to them and amplifying their voices. By leveraging child helpline data, governments, organizations and stakeholders can better understand emerging issues and craft policies that truly reflect the needs and aspirations of children and young people.
As we launch this report – on World Children’s Day, 20 November 2024 – I invite you to join us in celebrating the achievements of child helplines and reflecting on the work still to be done. Let this report be a testament of the potential of data to drive policy, and let it inspire action, collaboration, and sustained commitment to protecting the rights and wellbeing of children and young people worldwide.
You can view online and download the full report, and download an Executive Summary (which is available in English, French and Spanish).
Anastasia Shuster
Head of Data & Research
