Large increase in calls to Bris during the Christmas holidays: "Crisis has been turned into crisis"

During the Christmas holidays, there is always an increase in the number of calls to Bri's helpline, compared to the rest of the year.

But this Christmas holiday, the increase in calls has been extra large.

Already at the start of the corona pandemic, conversations began to increase, linked to situations such as domestic violence, suicide and self-harm.

- I think you can think that it is also connected with the fact that crisis has in some way led to crisis.

We have a pandemic, climate crisis, Russia's attack crisis against Ukraine, and what has also marked this autumn a lot is an economic crisis, says Magnus Jägerskog, general secretary at Bris, in SVT's Morgonstudion.

It is positive that children dare to put their lives into words

Economic crises are a known risk factor for, among other things, family conflicts and domestic violence, says Jägerskog.

- We can believe we see that there is such a connection, and as it looks, the economic crisis will continue.

The fact that calls to Bris are increasing indicates that there is a great need for support from children and young people in Sweden, but Jägerskog also emphasizes the positive aspect of children putting their life situation into words and thereby receiving support.

Many of the children who turn to the organization do not talk about their situation with any other adult.

- In the midst of all this, that there are black subjects, tough subjects, violence and vulnerability in various ways, it is also incredibly positive when children dare to put their lives into words.

Important to listen to questions

Children are affected to varying degrees by crises in the outside world, and the most important thing is that there is security around them.

As an adult, you don't have to sit on the answers, the most important thing is to listen to the children's questions, says child psychologist Clara Linnros:

- They usually say that you invite children, then you follow based on how they ask.

Sometimes they may want to talk for a while and then pause and do something else, then maybe it comes back later.