During the month of September this year, the social services in Helsingborg received 190 reports of concern regarding children and young people who are suspected of being in danger.
That was 28 percent more than the same time last year.
The increase has been ongoing throughout the autumn.
Children are discovered during an attack
Annika Weman Widegård, operations manager for children / young people and families in Helsingborg, sees a connection to the ongoing pandemic:
- There are more people who get sick at home, there are more cases of violence.
Many families are having a hard time right now with unemployment and mental illness, she says.
The social administration notes that the number of reports from the police has increased.
- It can be young people who commit crimes, and children and young people who are noticed in connection with raids when the police come home to a family where there are small children or in, for example, apartment riots.
A group is hit hard
In the social administration, a certain group of children and young people in particular have been hit hard by the pandemic.
- We can be children that we already have contact with and where we have previously stated that they are "good enough".
Their situation is okay a lot thanks to the fact that they have a private network of maybe a grandma or grandmother.
But for this particular group of young people, a lot has changed this autumn, as families and older relatives cannot meet to the same extent.
"Need more control"
In addition, many businesses have been shut down and reduced contacts with the outside world even more.
- Today, these children do not have the same safety net, neither privately nor professionally.
Then we need to be more aware of how they are doing, what the risks are.
We must make protection assessments and follow these children closely in our investigation and treatment work, says Annika Weman Widegård.