More teens, parents turn to hotlines over organized crime, bullying, depression

A record number of people sought support last year from the national listening service Luisterlijn, while a separate youth-focused platform, Keerpunt, reported a sharp rise in conversations about involvement in crime and unsafe situations.

Luisterlijn volunteers conducted 331,861 conversations in 2025 through phone calls, chats, and emails, marking the highest total since the service began in 1958. The figure represents an increase of about 15,000 conversations compared with 2024, according to the organization’s annual report.

The service said most contacts centered on mental health, with loneliness, sadness, and feelings of unrest most frequently discussed. Relationship problems and daily routines were also common topics.

“Many people indicate they do not feel heard or have no one in their environment to share their story with,” the organization said. Director-general Richard Coonen added, "Society is hardening, loneliness is increasing, and polarization is growing.” The organization also noted that callers often are “not seeking a solution, but mainly someone who listens to them without judgment.”

In a separate development, Keerpunt, a confidential chat platform supporting young people affected by crime, recorded more than 500 users last year, including young people, parents, and relatives. The service saw conversations related to criminal involvement rise from 89 in 2024 to 210 in the past year.

The platform, which operates anonymously via chat, said young people often reach out because they feel pressured to commit offenses such as transporting drugs, or because they want to stop criminal behavior. Other discussions involve debt problems and unsafe living conditions. About one-third of those contacting the service are minors.

Keerpunt, which launched in February 2024 and is funded by the Ministry of Justice and Security, said it is becoming more widely recognized in its first full year of operation. Team leader Sjoerd van Bemmel said, "For many young people, Keerpunt is the first place where they tell what is going on.”