UKRAINE CRISIS RESPONSE: FINDING A CHILD HELPLINE
What is a child helpline?
Child helplines are here to listen to children, young people and their caregivers every day. You can share anything with a child helpline counselor, including talking about any abuse, neglect, violence or exploitation that you may be experiencing. You can also talk to the counselor about your feelings, your fears, and the hopes, worries and any concerns that you might have. Child helplines have many trained counselors, and they can help you wherever you come from and wherever you are.
So, if you are a child, young person, caregiver or parent affected by the war in Ukraine, you can always contact a child helpline to get the help, advice, counseling and support that you need. A child helpline is available for you in Ukraine, and child helplines are also available for you in neighboring countries where you may now be living.
Why you might want to contact a child helpline?
When should you contact a child helpline?
It can always be helpful for you to contact a child helpline whenever you’re finding it difficult to cope or you simply need somebody to talk to. And it’s very important that you contact a child helpline as soon as you can whenever you are experiencing an urgent or extreme situation. This could include any of the following:
- You’re unable to carry out your usual activities because of how you are feeling.
- There are severe or long-lasting changes to your usual eating and sleeping habits.
- You’re feeling panicked, and finding it hard to calm yourself down again.
- You’re using alcohol or drugs in order to cope with things.
- You have thoughts about hurting others, harming yourself, or you’re thinking about ending your life.
- You are experiencing violence or abuse.
If you are worried that it will be difficult to talk to somebody about how you are feeling, remember that you don’t have to talk about everything all at once. Start by just sharing a little bit of information, or letting someone know that you would like some help and support with something.
How to find a child helpline in the country you're in
➤ Hungary
➤ Moldova
➤ Poland
➤ Slovakia
➤ Bulgaria
➤ Ukraine
Czech Republic – Linka LIA
Linka LIA helps children, teens, and adults who are affected by the war in Ukraine by giving them free counseling and referrals. When you call the number +42 800 601 020, you can choose one of 2 service options:
- Press 1 if you need psychological help or want to talk to professionals about your problem. This service is free of charge and highly confidential.
- Press 2 if you want to know about social services for Ukrainians in the Czech Republic (legal aids, interpreters, school system, residence permit questions).
Please note that Linka LIA is a participant in Ukrainian Crisis Response, but is not a formal member of the Child Helpline International network.
Operating Information and Opening Hours
Linka LIA provides service in Ukrainian and Russian.
Opening hours are:
- Monday to Friday (09.00 – 21.00)
- Saturday and Sunday (12.30 – 17.00)
Contact Details
Tel: +42 800 601 020
Hungary – Kék Vonal
Kék Vonal was created for children, teenagers and young adults, so that they always have someone to turn to! Their trained caregivers are available on the toll-free helpline at 116111, 24 hours a day.
Operating Information and Opening Hours
Kék Vonal provides service in:
- 116111 (Hungarian): Monday – Sunday 24/7
- +36 80 984 590 (Ukrainian/Russian): Every Tuesday & Thursday (16.00 – 20.00)
Contact Details
Moldova – Telefonul Copilului 116111 Moldova
Operated by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection, Telefonul Copilului 116111 Moldova is a free hotline that aims to protect children against any form of abuse of their rights, against any form of abuse and offers psychological counseling, information in the field of children’s rights, child protection consultancy and guidance and referral to the institutions empowered to provide the necessary assistance.
Operating Information and Opening Hours
Telefonul Copilului 116111 provides service in Romanian and Russian:
- Monday through Sunday 24/7
Contact Details
Poland – Telefon Zaufania
Telefon Zaufania 116 111 is a helpline provides support to children and adolescents up to 18 years of age. The phone is anonymous and free of charge, it works 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Children can talk about everything: friendship, love, growing up, dealing with parents, siblings, problems at school or the emotions they experience. The child helpline is operated by Fundacja Dajemy Dzieciom Sile (Empowering Children Organisation).
Operating Information and Opening Hours
Telefon Zaufania 116 111 provides service in:
- Polish: Monday through Sunday 24/7
- Ukrainian: Monday through Sunday 24/7
- If you are a Ukrainian in Poland with Ukrainian SIM Card, you can call +48 116 111
Contact Details
Slovakia – Linka Detskej Istoty
Linka Detskej Istoty (Child Safety Line) is available 24/7, FREE, ANONYMOUSLY for the whole territory of Slovakia.
The Child Safety Line provides assistance and guidance by phone, chat, and email to children, young people, and caregivers.
Mission: To be available for the children and youth at the moment – whenever they need it!
The work of Child Safety Line is based on compliance to and fulfilment of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Operating Information and Opening Hours
Linka Detskej Istoty provides service in:
- 116111 (Slovak): Monday – Sunday 24/7
- 0800 500 500 (Ukrainian/Russian): Every Tuesday from 13:30 to 19:30
Contact Details
Bulgaria – National Telephone Line for Children 116 111
The National Telephone Line for Children 116 111 is managed and administered by the State Agency for Child Protection with the aim of supporting all children and their families in Bulgaria. The operators who answer the calls are trained psychologists who 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, anonymously and completely free of charge, are ready to listen, support, consult and guide the callers on all issues that concern them.
Operating Information and Opening Hours
National Telephone Line for Children 116 111 provides service in:
- Bulgarian
- Russian
- English
- German
- Spanish
Monday through Sunday 24/7
Contact Details
Ukraine – National toll-free children's hotline in Ukraine
Since 2013, the NGO La Strada Ukraine has been operating the only national hotline for children and youth in Ukraine. Children, adolescents and students can receive anonymous and confidential support in any difficult life situations, and adults can consult a psychologist, lawyer, social worker and social educator on situations involving children and violations of their rights.
Operating Information and Opening Hours
The national hotline serves:
- Ukrainian
- Russian
The national toll-free hotline for children and youth is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Contact Details
Adapted from UNICEF.
