A staggering new report by ChildLine reveals that more than 11,000 children under the age of 17 reached out for support between 2020 and 2025.
Childline is dedicated to the well-being and protection of children and young people up to the age of 25 years. Founded in 2001, one of the main services of the organisation is a free, child-friendly, and child-sensitive proactive telephone helpline, which is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
In its report titled “A Snapshot of Problems Faced by Children” released on Thursday, the NGO said the 11,000 reports from children reveal a troubling pattern.
Chair of ChildLine’s Board of Directors, Isolde Ali Ghent-Garcia, noted increases in cases of abuse, self-harm, and general psychological distress affecting children across the country.
“Incidents of self-harm among children and young people have risen. These are not abstract statistics. These are real children, thousands of children within our schools, our communities, and our homes navigating distress that is often unspoken.”
According to ChildLine, social and family-related challenges were among the most common issues reported.
Childline’s Social Media & Communications Officer Naomi Francis, said abuse, health and psychosocial concerns, and high-risk behaviours also featured prominently.
“Among younger children aged 12 years and under, almost half of them reported family relationship problems, while another 18% reported issues specifically with communications between themselves and their parents. This tells us that for many children, these problems and these challenges are not starting in adolescence.”
Ms. Francis said high-risk behaviours accounted for 12% of all helpline cases, representing 1,291 children. Within this category, passive suicidal thoughts were the most frequently reported concern.
“Especially and particularly among boys, where it makes up 61% of reports, compared to 45% among girls. This is crucial insight, because passive suicidal thoughts are often misunderstood.”
The data points to rising levels of abuse and self-harm, along with a troubling increase in passive suicidal thoughts among young boys, a trend officials describe as deeply unsettling.
As ChildLine calls for the urgent integration of coping skills in school, the Ministry of Social Development says the findings serve as both a warning and a critical opportunity for action.
Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of the People, Social Development and Family Services, Dr. Natalie Chaitan-Maharaj, described the data as “powerful and deeply unsettling”.
“We are expanding our psychosocial support services because mental health is not a luxury, it is a necessity. And we are deepening partnerships with organisations like ChildLine, with UNICEF, with our schools, and with communities, because no single institution can do this alone.”
Based on its findings, ChildLine is recommending stronger family mediation services, expanded parenting support, the integration of resilience and coping skills into the school curriculum, the promotion of body autonomy and consent, and the creation of more safe and inclusive spaces for children.