Calls to Estonia's child helpline up 20% over the year
The number of contacts to Estonia's Lasteabi child helpline has grown 20% over the past year, with more children reaching out online. Specialists urge adults not to stay indifferent to children in danger.
The number of people contacting Estonia's child helpline Lasteabi has risen by 20% over the past year. Most contacts still come in Estonian, but both the number and share of Russian-language contacts have grown.
More children choosing online contact
Children are increasingly turning to the internet for help. While 54.5% of children who reached out used the web chat in the first half of 2025, that figure rose to 60% in the same period of 2026.
Abuse and suicidal thoughts among top reasons
Mistreatment of children remains one of the most common reasons for contacting Lasteabi, including emotional, physical and sexualized abuse as well as neglect of a child's needs. Particularly alarming is the number of sexual abuse cases: as in the previous year, 169 children were affected between January and June.
Kristiina Kaldma, head of the child helpline service at the Social Insurance Board, noted that under the Child Protection Act people are obligated to report a child who needs help or is in immediate danger.
The number of contacts related to suicidal thoughts and self-harm has also risen noticeably, with children and teenagers themselves increasingly reaching out for help on these issues.
Call to stay alert to other people's children
The missing-persons organization Kadunud responded to 30 searches for missing children last year. Its head, Aare Rüütel, said that if a small child is seen alone on the street, adults should approach and ask how they are, where their mother is, and whether they know the way home.
Police captain Kristel-Liis Kaunismaa stressed that a report of suspicion does not automatically mean a criminal case is opened or police immediately intervene in a family's life — the priority is offering timely help to the family.
Calls to 116 111 are free, even without credit on the phone, and counseling is available in Estonian, Russian and English. Lasteabi can also be reached through the online chat at lasteabi.ee, with the option to remain anonymous.
