Youth mental health in focus this week in Latvia

Last year, the Child Protection Helpline recorded 161 consultations related to suicidal thoughts or attempts. The Centre believes that this information demonstrates the need for increased attention and support measures to prevent mental health difficulties and to provide timely help to children and adolescents in need.

During the campaign, the 116111 helpline will provide special attention to children and adolescents, providing emotional support and talking about difficulties, help with mental health issues, information on support resources and options. Parents and relatives who want to know how to support children and adolescents in crisis situations will also be consulted.

"A teenager who is confronted with these thoughts is the one who turns to for help the most. They feel very confused, it is also a very uncomfortable moment and problem for them and they cannot discuss it with people close to them. They call us and then our specialists try to provide support and, if necessary, we have also sent, of course, the police or an ambulance if we have a feeling that the teenager might do something to himself," explains Lāsma Lagzdiņa, Head of the Child and Adolescent Helpline at the Center.

The children who call the helpline are mostly adolescents. According to Lagzdiņa, this is a time when they are under a considerable burden on their mental health. This is because of their studies, because of various relationship problems that arise between peers, and because the Covid-19 pandemic, when studying was done at a distance, still affects their daily lives.

It is not only children who make phone calls, but also their relatives who do not know how to react or help their teenager.

You can get in touch with the Helpline specialists and get support through the online counseling service "www.uzticibastalrunis.lv" or by writing to the chat window on the website. The 116111 helpline is open 24 hours a day and is a free phone line for both landlines and mobile phones. The opening hours are on weekdays from 12:00 to 20:00.