World Suicide Prevention Day: The Smile of the Child strengthens support for children in crisis

Expanding access to prevention, immediate intervention, and specialised psychosocial support for children and young people facing crises.

Eurochild member, The Smile of the Child is dedicated to protecting and supporting children and their families. Inspired by 10-year-old Andreas, who battled cancer from a very young age, the organisation continues to carry forward his vision of a world where every child can live with dignity, hope, love and a smile.

On the occasion of World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, Smile focused on the importance of prevention, early recognition, immediate intervention, and meaningful support for children and young people experiencing psychological crises, suicidal ideation, or non-suicidal self-harm.

The organisation’s latest figures highlight the growing need for such support. In 2025, it recorded 764 incidents involving suicidal and non-suicidal self-harm behaviour. During the first half of 2026, 491 more incidents were recorded, followed by an additional 345 cases during the summer months, from June 1st to August 31st, 2026.

According to the LifeLine International Network, which The Smile of The Child is a member of, suicide is the third leading cause of death among people aged 15–29. During the first half of 2025, members of the network received approximately 10 million calls and communications, while around 100 emergency rescues of people in immediate danger were carried out each day in cooperation with police and emergency medical services.

Faced with this reality, Smile has developed a comprehensive network of free services covering the entire spectrum of crisis management.

Helplines and hotlines offer immediate help and support 24 hours a day. They constitute a key tool for direct communication with children, adolescents, parents, educators, and professionals through the National Helpline for Children SOS 1056, the European Helpline for Children and Adolescents 116111, the European Helpline for Victims of Crime 116006 and Chat 1056. These services are free, operate 24/7, 365 days a year and allow for anonymous communication.

When a child or young person is in immediate danger to their life or safety, our intervention is not limited to providing counselling support. The Smile of the Child activates, where necessary, the relevant authorities makes the necessary referrals to ensure the child’s protection and collaborates with agencies such as the Hellenic Police Cybercrime Unit, the Hellenic Police Emergency Response, the European Emergency Number 112 and the National Emergency Medical Service 166.

Through its own House of the Child Psychotherapeutic Day Center, specialised psychotherapeutic support is provided to children and adolescents facing serious mental health challenges or who have experienced trauma.  At the same time, the Mobile Psychosocial Support Unit helps provide psychosocial care services.

Last but not least, The Smile of the Child implements interactive prevention and awareness-raising initiatives aimed at children and adolescents, parents and guardians, educators, professionals, and the general public.

For further information, please contact:

• Maria Koutsantoula, Psychologist, Help/Hotlines, National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, The Smile of the Child
• Chrysofili Kontou, Psychologist, Day Centre ‘House of the Child’, The Smile of the Child