Published at 06:00
Most children and young people currently have a long summer vacation. Lovely for many, but also a time when calls to Bris increase. During the summer, adults are asked to pay extra attention to children in their surroundings.
– The most important thing is to be present in children’s lives and above all to dare to ask, says Jennifer Pettersson, counselor at Bris.
The summer holidays have begun, a time that many children and teenagers look forward to and long for.
But when school, training and other routines are put on hold, exposure to violence and conflicts can increase, according to Bris, Children’s rights in society. The organization, which works for children’s well-being, urges adults to pay particular attention to the vulnerability of young people during the summer.
Curator: Show consideration and be patient
Bris emphasizes that adults have a great responsibility. If you suspect that a child in your environment is affected by mental illness, or has to endure family conflicts such as domestic violence, it is important to show that you care, have patience and act.
– Even if the child does not want to tell, it is important that someone shows concern and asks how it is, says Jennifer Pettersson, counselor at Bris.
– A child may not give an answer the first, second or third time. Then it is precisely the recurring attention that becomes valuable and important in the long run.
It is important to remind yourself that children are dependent on adults, says Pettersson, and adds the importance of daring to ask the questions that may be difficult.
– Children can describe a disappointment when they talk to us at Bris that they lived in violence, or in a destructive home environment, and that there were adults who saw this and should have acted.
– There is great disappointment among the children who feel that they have been let down by the adults around them.
“Better to ask once too much”
At the national helpline, there is often a sense of anxiety before holidays, according to Bris, where the summer particularly stands out because the holidays extend over ten weeks.
Jennifer Pettersson says that adults who are unsure how to proceed and want advice are welcome to contact Bri’s adult phone.
– It is better to ask once too much than once too little.
The calls to Bris
During the 2025 summer holidays, Bris had 10,988 contacts with children, compared to 10,330 the previous year. An increase of six percent.
Almost half of the conversations, 46 percent, have been about mental illness. A fifth, 24 per cent, have dealt with family and family conflicts, while 16 per cent have dealt with violence, abuse and violations.
Compared to previous years, conversations about physical violence increased by 52 percent, family relationships by 35 percent, and online-related issues by 58 percent.
The organization Bris offers free support calls with counselors via phone, chat, email and SMS.
Source: Bris
