site.btaNearly 6,300 Calls Made to National Child Helpline in Q1 of 2024

Nearly 6,300 calls were made to the National Child Helpline (NCHL) (telephone number 116 111) of the State Agency for Child Protection (SACP) in the first quarter of 2024. The data show that in the first three months of the year, compared to the last quarter of 2023, there has been an increase in both calls made and reports of a child at risk, SACP said on Sunday. 

A total of 405 reports of a child in risk were made between January 1 and March 3. Nearly 2,100 consultations were conducted during the same period. More than 1,000 children have sought counselling on the SACP's NCHL, with most calls coming from boys. Although girls are less likely to seek counselling from the helpline, they are more likely to report a child at risk.

One of the main topics that children call NCHL about is the difficulties they have in communicating with both peers and adults.