Help for children and young people

All children and young people have the right to feel well and to grow up safely. Here you can find out where to turn for help and support.

Social Services

Social Services, or ”soc” as many people call it, are here to help anyone who needs support – both children and adults. Our job is to make sure you feel well and safe.

Examples of when Social Services can help you:

• Someone in your family drinks alcohol or takes drugs, and it makes things difficult.
• There is shouting, fighting, or violence at home that makes you feel scared.
• Your family doesn’t have enough money for the things you need.
• You, your parents, or someone close to you feels very sad, worried, or unwell.
• Your parents are getting divorced and things feel confusing or upsetting.
• Your parents are having a hard time taking care of you, and you don’t feel safe or happy at home.
  

We can also help you if you do things that may be dangerous for you – for example, if you use drugs or break the law.

There are Social Services in every municipality in Sweden. Social workers are adults who listen and try to find solutions so that things can get better for you and your family.

How can I get help?

You can contact Social Services yourself and ask for help. This is called making an application. If someone else, like a teacher or a neighbour, is worried about you, they can also contact us.

When we find out that you or someone close to you may need help, we talk to you and try to understand how we can best support you.

If you are unsure

You can call us without saying your name or where you live. This means you are anonymous.

You can ask questions about what we do and what happens if you tell us about your situation at home. This way, you can take your time and think things through before deciding if you want to talk to us more.

We are here for you and we want you to feel well!

Helpful links:

Koll på soc

Koll på soc explains to children and young people what Social Services are and what kind of help you can get.

• Information about Swedish social services – for children and young persons External link.

Lilla rädda barnen

Here you can learn about your rights, your feelings, and get tips on how to feel well.

• lilla.raddabarnen.se External link. (Swedish)

Ung i Sverige (Young In Sweden)

Here you can read about the rights of children and young people in Sweden, depending on your age. You can also find information about school, health and leisure activities. Available in different languages.

• Young people in Sweden External link.

Umo/Youmo

Information for you aged 13–25. Learn more about sex & relationships, tobacco, alcohol & drugs, mental health, self-esteem and more.

• Youmo External link.

Bris

If you are under 18 and need support, you can contact Bris any time, day or night, by phone or chat. The people working at Bris are trained counsellors and have a duty of confidentiality.

• Bris  (Swedish) External link.