The psychologist explained the increase in the number of calls from children to the helpline

Tatiana Shishova, Vice-president of the Foundation for Social and Psychological Assistance to Families and Children, explained why children began to call the helpline more often.

In an interview with Radio 1 on Wednesday, December 24, the specialist said that most often children and teenagers seek help because of personal problems, loneliness and low self-esteem — there are almost 14 thousand such requests. About 12,000 more are related to bullying and school conflicts, and more than 7,000 are related to family difficulties. According to the expert, the growth of these indicators is due to several factors at once: high academic workload, the pressure of a culture of success, bullying in schools and early, uncontrolled immersion in the digital environment.

Shishova stressed that prolonged exposure to the screen weakens the psyche, and a significant part of the online content consumed by children is depressive and destructive. She also pointed to the widespread romanticization of mental disorders among teenagers and the lack of live communication, depriving them of emotional support. As a preventive measure, the expert recommended introducing the child to a smartphone as late as possible and building a meaningful dialogue in the family.

In addition, she drew attention to the importance of monitoring changes in adolescent behavior — increased irritability or tearfulness, which do not occur for no reason. The specialist sees the solution to problems, including bullying, in the joint work of parents and the school and emphasizes that the main thing is not to lose contact with the child, transferring communication to a more adult and conscious level.

The number of calls from children to the helpline in the Moscow region due to anxiety and depression increased by 20%.

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December 22nd 360.ru He wrote that the children's helpline has been operating in the Moscow region since 2010 at 8 (800) 200-01-22. Since January, the specialists have received more than 60 thousand calls. Psychologists work around the clock and stay in touch with the subscriber as long as necessary, help to calm down and act correctly in a crisis situation. According to RT, consultations can be obtained anonymously.

On December 10, new research showed that short online videos can negatively affect children's sleep, attention, and emotional state. Experts emphasized the importance of controlling and structuring screen time to maintain mental health.

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