Yesterday Childline Gibraltar launched Teenline, a new helpline providing confidential counselling support to young people across Gibraltar.  The helpline will be available free of charge every day from 5pm to 9pm.

A statement from Childline Gibraltar follows below:

Childline Gibraltar is proud to announce the launch of Teenline, a new helpline providing confidential counselling support to young people across Gibraltar,  Available free of charge every day from 5pm to 9pm, Teenline will offer young people a safe and trusted space to talk about any issues or concerns they may be facing, any day they need it, as many times as they want to access support—without the need for appointments or waiting lists.

Teenline was officially launched on Monday 11^th November at Plater Youth Club by The Hon Christian Santos, Minister for Youth. The launch was also attended by the launch was also attended by Ministers Gemma Aria Vasquez, John Cortes and Nigel Feetham along with Her Worship The Mayor, Carmen Gomez. In addition, the event saw participation from representatives of secondary schools, members of the Child Protection Committee, along with dedicated professionals, community members, and young people. This celebration of Teenline's launch demonstrates the support for this new initiative across sectors of the community in Gibraltar.

Teenline was created in response to feedback from young people who expressed a need for a helpline specifically tailored to their age group. Research conducted by the Youth Service as part of their five-year strategy found that many young people no longer felt they identified as children and felt they had ‘outgrown’ Childline. At the same time, mental health concerns have been the top issue raised by young people to Childline for the past four years. Mental health-related calls now account for 31% of all calls to the helpline, with issues such as anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and self-harm regularly discussed.

With this in mind, Childline Gibraltar has adapted its service model, introducing Teenline as a resource aimed at reaching young people with high-quality, confidential counselling support in their time of need.

Teenline is a dedicated support line for young people designed to be accessible, offering immediate, free access to a trained Listener—whether by phone (8009) or via WhatsApp (58009513). There are no appointments required, and young people can contact Teenline at any time during the opening hours of 5pm–9pm, 7 days a week. Calls and messages are free of charge, and the service is confidential.

“When you reach out to Teenline, you’ll speak with someone who is there to listen and support you, without judgement, whether you're facing mental health struggles, relationship issues, bullying, stress, or just need someone to talk to,” said Caroline Carter, Chief Executive at Childline Gibraltar.

‘Teenline is open to any young person who wants to talk’, added Caroline. ‘The team is available to support with a wide range of concerns, including mental health issues like anxiety, stress, and depression; sexual health, acne, periods, grief, thoughts of self-harm or suicide; bullying, abuse, and relationships; school or work stress; family problems; or simply if you need someone to talk to.

‘We understand that reaching out can feel daunting so Teenline Listeners are trained to help young people to feel comfortable and they can guide them through the conversation at their own pace.

‘Teenline is more than just a helpline—it's a space where young people can feel heard and supported in a non-judgmental way. Whether they’re struggling with mental health, relationships, or any other personal issue, Teenline is here to offer support and guidance when young people need it most.’

Teenline will also have a new offer to young people, where in partnership with the GHA, if any young people contact Teenline needing specialist support, They can be offered the opportunity to receive care from the Gibraltar Young Minds team. This will ensure that young people get early intervention and specialist support, whatever they are going through.

Childline Gibraltar extends sincere gratitude to the Isola Foundation, for their generous support in funding the launch of Teenline, and the Gibraltar Youth Service for their collaboration in the development of Teenline.

How to Reach Teenline

•             Phone: 8009

•             WhatsApp: 58009513

•             Hours: 5pm–9pm, 7 days a week