HELPLINE

The purpose of the safer internet Helpline is to offer a service for children and young people, where they can raise concerns and get support about illegal and harmful content, harmful conduct and distressing experiences related to their use of online technologies. The Helpline is based on a well-known nationwide service called The Child and Youth Phone, which has been maintained by the MLL since 1980. Children can call to the cost-free phone and discuss with a trained adult volunteer. The volunteers work in groups, always guided by a helpline professional. In addition to the phone helpline service, children can also write anonymous e-letters to the Helpline volunteers through the YouthNet website.

The FIAS project has produced a training module, which provides all helpline volunteers with basic training and supportive material so that different troubles related to online technologies can be dealt among other troubles in children’s lives. In addition, the helpline staff and volunteers are provided with advanced trainings with the help of the FIAS module based internet safety training system.

MLL has collected data about helpline contacts concerning children’s troubles online. These kinds of contacts have been on rise, and the concerns are often connected to children’s friendships and online social life. For example, meeting online friends, bullying, and excessive use of the web or games.

More information:

The Mannerheim League for Child Welfare www.mll.fi/nuortennetti