Worried parents embrace English online help service

(JB) A new English-language online help service in Luxembourg has received 22 requests since going live this year.

The Kanner-Jugendtelefon (KJT) launched an English online service for international parents on January 15, 2015 and a similar service for young people on June 9.

Both services are anonymous and confidential. The two services were set up by the not for profit after a survey identified a need for better access to information in English for international families.

An interim report showed that the kinds of questions asked did not differ across language groups.

“The most English speaking requests came from worried parents. They write to us because they feel alone in a foreign country, they don't know where to go to ask for help and support,” a KJT spokesperson said.

Some requests covered basic needs such as financial difficulties, housing and employment. But, parents have also reached out for help when their children display suicidal tendencies.

KJT also runs an online help service available in any of the three national languages. Altogether, this service received 161 requests since the beginning of 2015.

To find out more about its services, visit www.kjt.lu/en/

Do not miss the news - sign up to receive the wort.lu newsletter in English delivered to your inbox six days a week.