Across Europe, mental health is the leading reason why children and young people contact child helplines. Between 2020 and 2024, child helplines received 2.9 million mental-health-related contacts (39% of all counselling contacts), including more than 1 million linked to fear, anxiety or mood problems, and nearly 700,000 involving self-harm or suicidal thoughts.
In 2024 alone, 22,000 children and young people in Europe reached out because they could not access mental-health services. Child helplines provide free, confidential and real-time support, acting as essential early intervention and referral actors.
This advocacy brief summarizes emerging trends from child helpline data and outlines recommendations for strengthening responses at the EU and national level, particularly as digital harms evolve and more children seek help online.
The paper has been shared with key Members of the European Parliament, including those in the SANT Committee, the Intergroup on Children’s Rights, and the Mental Health Intergroup, to inform ongoing legislative and implementation processes.
Child Helpline International stands ready to support the EU’s commitment to child protection and improved mental health care across Member States.
