The BRIS Report provides statistics and analysis on child contacts received by BRIS in 2005. Key findings include: 1) BRIS received a total of 19,237 calls and emails from children in 2005, with emails increasing and now comprising almost half of all contacts. 2) The most common topics in contacts were family conflicts, mental illness such as depression, bullying, violence and self-harm. 3) BRIS.se, the organization's website, saw 428,000 visits in 2005, a 24% increase over 2004. The site provides discussion forums, advice columns, and the ability for children to email BRIS for support.

1. 05
The BRIS Report
Calls and E-mails to BRIS 2005

3. the bris report 2005 : content
Contents: The BRIS Report
1. Summary................................................................................................... 5
2005 2. Child contacts in BRIS support services 2005....................................... 6
3. BRIS.se..................................................................................................... 10
4. Children and violence............................................................................ 14
5. Children and family............................................................................... 24
6. BRIS’ Adult contacts............................................................................... 30
7. Tsunami contacts...................................................................................32
To protect the children’s anonymity, all quotes from children are somewhat edited. Persons pictured have no connection to the text.
Responsible editor: Ingela Thalén, Chairperson BRIS National Association // Texts: Gunnar Sandelin, Press Secretary BRIS
Research: Peter Irgens, R&D Secretary BRIS // Graphical design: IK Stockholm // Production: Grannen, Per Tannergård
Translation: Eqvator AB
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4. the bris report 2005
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photo: magnus kristenson, mosebacke media

5. the bris report 2005 : Summary
Summary
In total, BRIS volunteers supportively answered 19,237 Mental illness
calls and e-mails in 2005. E-mails have increased in Most children in Sweden are doing well and receive
the last few years and now almost half of all contacts care from adults in their surroundings, but mental
are made through the BRIS-mail. Family conflicts, illness increasingly dominates our contacts with
mental illness, bullying, violence and self-inflicted children. All information indicates that mental
1
violence of different kinds were central topical areas illness is also on the rise in society as a result of
in the contacts with children in 2005. increasing numbers of young people being forced
Over the year, the BRIS.se website has had a total into an existence that they feel they cannot handle.
of about 428,000 visits, which is an increase of 24% One of BRIS’ most important external objectives is to
compared to 2004. See Supportive child contacts contribute to identifying and changing this trend.
during 2005, chapter 2.
Two focal areas
Platform of BRIS´ activities 2006 Based on the documented supportive contacts in
At the same time, the BRIS Report 2005 constitutes 2005 over which BRIS has maintained statistics, two
the platform of BRIS´ activities in 2006. Based on focal areas in particular have been identified:
what children and young people have conveyed we children and violence and children and family.
are taking a foothold for a year that among other These areas are permeated by mental illness and
things includes a parliamentary election and a large the lack of adult support. Because children are our
international conference in Stockholm about clients, the main emphasis of our outreach services
helplines for children. will be based on these focal areas in 2006. Read
more about Children and violence, chapter 4, and
Adult guarantee Children and family, chapter 5.
To promote the mental health of children, BRIS will
work on an adult guarantee in children’s lives as an
overall theme in 2006. The written and oral accounts
of children consistently bear witness to a lack of
physically and mentally present adults. BRIS
therefore wants to emphasize the adult world’s
responsibility – every child is entitled to adult
support. The objective is for the adult guarantee to
be emphasized and prioritised on the political
agenda.
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6. the bris report 2005 : Child contacts in BRIS support 2005
Child contacts in
BRIS support 2005
E-mails and website visits on the rise The e-mails increased to 8,459 and the calls
Since the BRIS-mail started in January 2001, children decreased to 10,778 – an overall decrease of 13% in
have been able to reach BRIS both orally and in supportive contacts compared to the previous year.
writing. This has meant that the number of e-mails At the same time the trend is for the calls to become
2
and calls are increasingly converging. For several longer. An average call lasted almost 15 minutes.
decades BRIS has been synonymous with the During 2005 the BRIS.se website had a total of
Children’s Helpline, but today the BRIS-mail stands about 428,000 visits, which is 24% more than last
for close to half (44%) of all of the contacts with year. 9,732 users logged in 65,233 times.
children and young people. In the Discussion Forum section, approximately
In total, BRIS volunteers supportively answered 9,300 submissions were published on the nine
19,237 calls and e-mails in 2005. themes underway over the year. This is an increase
1
Statistically recorded child contacts 1991-2005
1991 3 000 Children’s Helpline, statistically recorded calls from children
1992 4 828 BRIS-mail, supportive responses
1993 6 203
1994 9 926
1995 12 189
1996 11 169
1997 10 345
1998 12 788
1999 14 341
2000 18 039
2001 19 358
2002 23 023
2003 22 044
2004 22 133
2005 19 237
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7. the bris report 2005 : Child contacts in BRIS support 2005
2
The 15 most common contact topics in calls and e-mails from children
Family conflicts 19 % 3 597
Relationships with friends 15 % 2 915
Love relationships 13 % 2 430
Bullying 13 % 2 408
Loneliness 9,8 % 1 892
Other mental illness 8,4 % 1 621
Self-destructiveness 8,2 % 1 576
Existential/life issues 7,9 % 1 527
Suicide/thoughts of suicide 7,7 % 1 488
Physical abuse 6,4 % 1 228
Identity issues 5,8 % 1125
Sorrow 5,7 % 1 097
Sexuality 5,7 % 1 088 Calls
Body/appearance 5,1 % 978 E-mails
Sexual abuse/molestation 4,6 % 883 ntot = 19 237
The total percentage exceeds 100 percent as all figures concerning child contacts reflect both the primary and secondary
topics of calls and e-mails.
of 50% compared to last year. Additionally, 30,272 from boys. Also see Boys’ poor mental health,
so-called test calls were received that did not chapter 4.3.
contain enough information to be able to be further
processed. Differences in calls and e-mails
Overall, e-mailing reflects to a considerable extent
Eight out of ten contacts concern girls the perception of an inner problem or questioning.
It is primarily the girls that contact BRIS and they For example, issues of suicide and self-destructive-
mainly do so by writing: almost nine out of ten e- ness are dealt with three times more often in e-mail
mails as well as seven out of ten calls from children than on the phone. On the other hand, when
are about girls. In total, eight out of ten child children are the victims of different kinds of serious
contacts concern girls. But beyond the statistically violation by their surroundings, they prefer to have
recorded contacts, seven out of ten test calls come someone to talk to.
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photo: ulf huett

8. the bris report 2005 : Child contacts in BRIS support 2005
contacts reflect both the primary and secondary
3
topics of calls and e-mails.
The 10 most common topics in calls from children
Like the previous year, conflicts within the family
were the single most common reason for contacting
Family conflicts 18 %
BRIS in 2005. These family conflicts can be about
Bullying 17 % everything from liberation issues to honour-related
Relationships with friends 14 % violence. Also see Children and family, chapter 5.
Love relationships 12 %
Mental illness a common theme
Loneliness 10 %
The most tangible increase in the share of contacts
Physical abuse 8,0 % in the past year is related to mental illness. This
Existential/life issues 6,8 % trend strongly corresponds to all reports in society
Other mental illness 6,7 % in general that concern signs of an increase in the
psychological problems of young people.
Sexuality 6,5 %
In total, one out of five child contacts with BRIS
Sorrow 5,9 % ntot = 10 778
concerns mental illness. Topics such as suicide, self-
destructiveness and eating disorders are included
here. Loneliness, sorrow and existential life-issues
4
are also in the background. Stress is also on the rise,
The 10 most common e-mail topics mainly related to school.
Family conflicts 19 % Perpetrators
Relationships with friends 17 % Every year BRIS makes a perpetrator profile based on
Love relationships
the information children and young people convey.
14 %
These profiles are somewhat similar year after year.
Self-destructiveness 13 %
Bullying was for many years the most common
Suicide/thoughts of suicide 12 % reason to call BRIS and is still one of the most
Other mental illness 11 % common problem areas. Groups consisting of both
Loneliness 9,6 % boys and girls are the most common “bullies” – in
close to half of all cases mixed-gender groups do
Existential/life issues 9,3 %
the bullying.
Identity issues 7,0 %
A new kind of bullying that has increased in the
Bullying 6,6 % ntot = 8 459 last few years is virtual bullying, which takes
place in different ways on the Internet, in text
messages, etc.
Children tell of bullying almost three times more often The children that contact us are on average 14 years With regard to physical and sexual abuse/
over the phone than in e-mail, just as it is almost old and just over half (57%) live in a nuclear family molestation, a biological father is the most frequent
twice as common to call about physical abuse, as it is while 17% live with a lone mother. The total percen- single perpetrator and the home is the most
to e-mail. Also see Children and violence, chapter 4. tage exceeds 100 percent as the figures on child common crime scene.
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9. the bris report 2005 : Child contacts in BRIS support 2005
And the children remain anonymous as long as they
5
themselves want. In proportion to the total number
Referrals in the contacts with children
of calls, only a small fraction result in assignments
from children, but they often concern the most
Adult in the family 38 % vulnerable children. The assignment services are
Total school 29 % therefore an important part of BRIS support. In total,
20 % School counsellor/psychologist 48 assignments were completed in 2005.
16 % School nurse
16 % Teacher
3,0 % Head teacher
Friend/Boy-/girlfriend 18 %
Youth counselling centre 16 %
Child psychiatry and health services 7,1 %
Social services 6,6 %
Police 1,8 %
Other adult outside the family 15 %
Further contact with BRIS 32 %
Other 8,8 % n = 14 224
The clearest trend is that an increased percentage of find appropriate adults, regardless of whether they
boyfriends and other contemporaries are the are professionals or personal contacts of the child.
perpetrators of abuse. Read more about Children Legal guardians and other related adults often
and violence, Perpetrator profiles, chapter 4. indicate that they do not have time or energy, and
The tsunami in Southeast Asia last Christmas student care has shrunk its resources to a minimum.
was almost the sole call topic regarding events
covered in the media and it still leads to children Assignments
contacting BRIS. About 250 contacts on this subject Assignments mean that the child contacting BRIS
came in, up to and including 2005. Read more about requests more active involvement by a BRIS repre-
our Tsunami groups in chapter 7. sentative. This can concern children who find
themselves in an acute, dangerous situation, are
After the contact harming themselves or need help for other reasons.
BRIS usually reviews with the child the people in An assignment gives BRIS the possibility of doing
their surrounding network that they trust and can everything from conducting in-depth support and
actively contribute to a change. This is done in three motivational discussions to getting in touch with
fourths of all cases, but it can often be difficult to authorities or initiating similar contacts. photo: lena granefelt
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10. the bris report 2005 : BRIS.se
BRIS.se
BRIS.se started in January 2001 because there was a E-mail emboldens
need for children and young people to communicate This past summer 631 children and young people
over the Internet. Today the website consists of a responded to a survey on our website about what
number of functions, which are touched upon in this they thought of the BRIS-mail. Many mention that
chapter. BRIS.se is a forum for support efforts, infor- communication over e-mail has given them courage
3
mation and knowledge retrieval where the main and self-confidence. They have received advice and
emphasis lies on secure forms of BRIS’ dialogue with support in moving on with their problems. They also
children and young people. It is also a platform for think that the e-mail contact has given them
reaching out in terms of influencing public opinion, another view of the matter. Some children, however,
maintaining contact with the media and gathering still do not know if they have any use for the
funding for support services. answers and a small group (28 children) express
Over the year, the BRIS.se website has had a displeasure and disappointment over inadequate
total of about 428,000 visits, which is an increase treatment.
of 24% compared to 2004. Blowing off steam, being able to tell their story,
The following support functions on the Web are being taken seriously, having someone on their side,
covered in this chapter: getting encouragement, knowing what is right and
wrong, helping to see other possibilities and
• The BRIS-mail learning that they are not alone are other important
• Discussion Forums things that the children bring up. Understanding, in
• Support and advice particular, is perceived as being important and tops
the list of what our visitors want to get out of the
• BRIS Young People
BRIS-mail. The word feedback summarises the issue:
• Ask the lawyer children want to know, get answers and input from
• The Red Pages (administered by BRIS) an adult at BRIS. More information on the BRIS-mail
can be found in chapters 1, 2, 4 and 5.
3.1 The BRIS-mail
The largest section on BRIS.se is the BRIS-mail, 3.2 Discussion Forum
which will soon be as extensive as the Children’s On the Discussion Forum, children and young
Helpline. The fundamental principal of the contacts people have the opportunity of asking questions,
is based on the children being able to write to us discussing issues and giving answers to each other
anonymously, using their own passwords so that under the oversight of a BRIS moderator for the
their e-mail is just as secure as the calls. fourth year running. Here, they can write incognito
During 2005, 10,217 e-mails were received, of about everything from every-day concerns to deeper
which 8,459 were supportively answered and problems. By getting answers from others who have
constituted 44% of the statistically recorded child been in the same situation or have ideas on how
contacts. they can resolve a tough situation, those who post a
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11. the bris report 2005 : BRIS.se
question have an opportunity to find new solutions Response: help :S
to things that feel insurmountable. Her mum shouldn’t blame her. Parents getting a
Many also share their positive thoughts and tell divorce is not the kids fault. That’s what every book
others how they have solved a particular problem or about divorce in the world says. Stay on her side. If
tell of enjoyable meetings or events that they have it’s as bad as it sounds she needs you very much.
experienced. You should do something fun like go to the cinema
During 2005, about 10,200 contributions were or something. When people are having a tough time
submitted to the Discussion Forum, of which 9,337 they should have something to look forward to.
were posted after approval by BRIS.
During 2005 the following themes were discussed: What should I do?
Friendship, Docudramas, Family, the Catastrophe Hi! I’m a 13-year-old girl. I’m in year seven and am
in Asia, Love, Tricky Situations, Questions to guys, completely undeveloped. I’ve got tiny breasts. All of
How should a parent act? What makes you happy? my classmates have large, nice looking breasts, but I
Had problems on the Internet? and various topics almost have nothing. I have just enough for a 65A. I
in the open forum: The floor is open. want to use a push-up bra, but my mum won’t let
me. What should I do? Please give me some tips/
Love Theme: from a horse-loving girl.
How to kiss?? Response: What should I do? in each subject. The page is customised for children
i wonder when you kiss someone.. do you tilt your Hi. :) and young people, but also directed at parents and
head, but touch the lips like a normal peck or do you It’s really sad that people have to feel bad because of other important adults. On Support and advice there
open the mouth right when you touch?? appreciate things like their breasts. I’m in year nine and I know is also help in finding where to turn if one needs
an answer! that breasts grow at different speeds on different someone to talk to, including a section for those
Response: How to kiss?? people and everyone looks different. There isn’t who are friends of someone doing poorly. Here it is
A kiss consists of about 10% technique and 90% anything you can do to get a bigger bust, all you can common that friends get in touch when they learn
feeling. It will all work out when the time is right. do is wait and not think so much about it. This isn’t of something in faith and then do not know how
a fun answer, but that’s how it is. they should help without breaking that faith.
The floor is open: Response: On Support and advice one can also get a picture
help :S Are you really sure that you’re alone in having small of what children and young people say when they
How should I help my friend..she’s in a bad way, a 15 breasts? Look around you carefully. Your breasts will contact BRIS. This is done by unidentified call and e-
year-old girl who hardly knows up from down grow for several more years and is the brain in the mail examples that are available on the page.
anymore. Her parents are divorced now, but her bust? No, luckily the brain’s in the head. I think you
mum blames it all on her, and she gets shit every should try to let go of this and think about some- 3.4 Young people’s section
day everywhere and from everyone. She’s down and thing that makes you feel better. :) Good luck :) BRIS Young People is a page that is customised to
they’re still kicking her, I dunno what I should do the target group of 13-18 year-olds on which one has
anymore...??? =( 3.3 Support and advice the possibility of registering as a youth member or
Response: help :S At BRIS.se there is a subsection called Support and school representative. As a school representative,
All you can do is just try to keep a supporting arm advice, where those interested can read more about one works with current material to spread informa-
around her shoulders and be there for her the whole different topics in the support services. Every area tion about BRIS at one’s school, sports club or
time when she needs it. Good luck! has a fact sheet that brings up current information recreation centre.
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12. the bris report 2005 : BRIS.se
On BRIS Young People one can also send postcards victimised in many other cases also do not know
to friends, answer a current question and make who can help them or who is responsible for what
oneself heard by going into the notice board. happens. Ask the lawyer is intended as an aid to
The visitors also have the opportunity of reading children and young people in all of these situations
more about the UN Convention of the Rights of the who want to know more and want to find some
Child and watch films bring up the rights of young clarity in what applies with regard to our legislation.
people. Today there are about 400 registered questions of
A section that is often used is “Write a poem or a legal nature from children and young people with
short story”. Many young people share their thoughts their answers from BRIS, which emphasizes the
by posting a contribution that others can read and need of an independent forum with the possibility
also comment on. for children and young people to ask questions.
BRIS’ intention is to continue to administer and
It’s too tough refine the service. The following is a selection of
Love is tough excerpts from the questions that came in during
It slips between our fingers 2005:
it’s in the words you say
in your prettiest smile.. • I’m 9 years old and turn 10 soon and am wonde-
It’s in your breath on my cheek. ring what I should do to move to my dad. I’ve said
It’s the weight in my heart.. this to mum the whole time, but she doesn’t listen.
Every day without your hands & your smile.. What happens if I refuse to go to her? Mum says
is a day of sorrow.. that she and dad will talk to the family court, but
I love you. will anyone listen to me?
By: The Black that luv him
• If I tell my psychologist at the child psychiatry
All contributions to the Notice Board and Write a clinic that I cut myself, does he have to tell my
poem or short story are approved by a moderator parents?
before they are posted.
• Hi! I went and talked to social services when I was
3.5 Ask the lawyer younger. Now I’m 15 and I wonder if I can read my
Ask the lawyer has been developed to give children records and if so how can I get a hold of them?
and young people up to age 18 an opportunity to ask
questions that have legal ties. The service is open • Can my psychologist come to my trial that will be
around the clock and the goal is for the questions to held in a few months. It’s about rape of a minor.
be answered within 24 hours. How long a sentence can the guy who did it get?
Many children and young people often convey the
feeling that adults do not listen or cannot answer 3.6 The Red Pages
questions important to them. It is particularly For the last two years BRIS has operated and
difficult to get answers on what rights and obliga- administered a new website, www.rodasidorna.se,
tions children and parents have to each other. Those which is a search engine for children and young
12
photo: lena granefelt

13. the bris report 2005 : BRIS.se
people up to age 18. Through the Red Pages, young
6
people can get help to quickly and easily find
organisations, services and authorities that exist
for them – locally or nationally. One can search What young people lack in their municipality
based on problem area, location or free text.
“The basic idea is that as a young person I
What young people lack in their municipality
according to approx. 300 e-mails to the Red Pages via the Tip function.
should be able to find out where I can turn to in my according to approx. 300 e-mails to the Red Pages via the Tip function.
local surroundings. If I want help with some
particular problem or answers to some important
question, I should be able to find organisations and Safe outdoor environment
services dealing with it,” says Maria Rådlund, Social
Safe outdoor environment
Worker at BRIS who is also the editor of the Red
Pages.
10 %
10 %
Well-visited website
During 2005 the traffic to the Red Pages increased
34% Support/Help
markedly to about 40,000 visits per month in the last Activity centre 25% 34% Support/Help
quarter.
The website’s “Tip function” also gives children
Activity centre 25%
and young people the opportunity of informing the
editorial staff of good services available in their
town, or giving their opinions and saying what they 31%
lack. Here there is also information about authori-
ties and tips on where to turn with different 31%
questions or problems.
Buffer Youth centre
The Red Pages has its own section for adults –
Buffer. Here there is a news page where current Youth centre
news concerning children and young people is
presented and updated every day. Within Buffer
there is also a project bank – the search engine for
projects that aim to improve the living conditions
of children and young people by spreading good What young people lack in their organisations where they can meet contemporaries
examples. municipality with similar problems. Young people mainly want to
The content in the search engine for the Red Young people primarily inquire about recreation have support services for children of parents with
Pages and the project bank is based on active centres or other kinds of activity centres where they problems of drug and alcohol abuse, parents with
organisations registering their own services and can meet contemporaries. Those that inquire about mental illnesses and support when one has been a
projects. support services primarily express a lack of group victim of sexual assault.
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14. the bris report 2005 : Children and violence
Children and violence
Adult guarantee as a social concept concerning children and violence, we see many lonely
In the report’s introduction, it was emphasized that and victimised children. This is true when children are
this year BRIS will work with the overall theme of an exposed to adult’s violence and when children inflict
adult guarantee in children’s lives. BRIS wants to violence on contemporaries or physically harm
make the adult guarantee a social concept because themselves. BRIS’ material on children and violence is
4
every child should be entitled to meaningful adult extensive. Therefore we have chosen to focus on three
relationships. The background is that all too many areas, all of which constitute important aspects of the
children that contact BRIS bear witness to the fact lives of children exposed to violence today:
that what is fundamentally lacking in their lives are
aware, meaningful and mature adults.
• Adult’s violence toward children, which is
comprised of physical and sexual abuse.
The lack of a meaningful adult presence is the
basis for the chapter Children and violence because it • Violence between children, which primarily
is like a binding tie through the theme in all aspects. concerns bullying.
• Self-inflicted violence, which is tied to mental
Three aspects of violence illness.
Whether dealing with adults’ violence toward children,
children’s violence toward each other or children’s From violence to self-inflicted violence
violence toward themselves, there is a tie to the lack of Since the mid-90s BRIS has experienced a pendulum
supportive adult relationships. In all texts and calls motion in the contacts with children and young
7
Perpetrators in child contacts about physical abuse
Father 41 %
Mother 14 %
Both adults 8,7 %
Boyfriend/girlfriend 8,5 %
Stepfather 6,2 %
Sibling 4,7 %
Teacher/school personnel 1,9 %
Other known contemporary 8,0 %
Other known adult 2,8 %
See perpetrators of the Other 4,4 % n = 1 182
same age, page 19.
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15. the bris report 2005 : Children and violence
people, which we call from violence to self-inflicted
8
violence. During the mid-90s many children called Perpetrators in child contacts about sexual abuse/molestation
about physical and sexual abuse, primarily commit-
ted by adult perpetrators. Victimisation due to Father 23 %
bullying was the single most common reason for Boyfriend 7,4 %
contacting BRIS, where the perpetrator was most
Mother 6,8 %
often a contemporary. These contacts are approx-
Stepfather 6,7 %
imately constant to date, but some years we have
seen an increase in the percentage of young Teacher/school personnel 3,7 %
perpetrators, which also applies to 2005. Sibling 3,1 %
In contrast to previous years, BRIS now at the
Another family member 5,4 %
same time receives thousands of testimonies about
Other known contemporary 15 %
children’s self-inflicted violence. Since the BRIS-mail
started five years ago, an explosion of e-mails Other known adult 12 %
concerning self-destructive behaviour and suicidal Other 16 % n = 779
issues has arisen. When the possibility of writing to
BRIS was made available, mainly young girls
received a channel for expressing both self-hate and areas and they are predominantly similar year after • Hi I’m a 14-year-old guy and I was out 10 min
a loathing of life. See 4.3 Self-inflicted violence and year. Through the BRIS-mail we have in the last few longer than I’m allowed. Dad grabbed me really hard
mental illness. years also received information about perpetrators and I began to scream. Then he hit me in the back
from children who write to us. and violently threw me down on the floor next to
4.1 Adults’ violence to children Year after year, the violence in the majority of mum and she didn’t care. I screamed and cried…
In 1971 BRIS started with the original objective of cases is consistently committed in the home,
protecting children from adult violence. The fight which is true of 81% of the physical abuse cases • 12-year-old girl. Her mum is always cross with her
was taken to the part of society that neglected child and 52% of the sexual abuse cases in BRIS child and usually beats her. Today her mum’s boyfriend
abuse. The organisation’s founders worked like a fire contacts in 2005. The most common perpetrator is dragged her up the stairs so violently that she
under authorities and decision-makers. The “BRIS also consistently a biological father. injured her shoulder, just because she thought her
guerrilla” was one of the media’s terms of the day. In child contacts about physical abuse, the homework in Swedish was hard and asked for help.
BRIS also made strong contributions in making perpetrator is a male in seven out of ten cases and
Sweden the first country in the world to prohibit in sexual abuse there is a male perpetrator in nine • Girl, 15 years old. After a while it comes out that
corporal punishment of children. out of ten cases. Girls are also the most common her dad beats her. That is however better than when
Adult violence to children almost solely concerns victims: in almost seven out of ten cases of she has to “console” him. The abuse has been going
physical abuse and sexual abuse. In 2005 BRIS had physical abuse and just over eight out of ten cases on for several years. It started with the mouth, but
a total of 2,002 supportive child contacts that dealt in sexual abuse/molestation. now he does it both “here and there”. Her mother
with these areas. The question is if there are hidden statistics here knows about it and her solution is to give the daugh-
as well with regard to the victimisation of boys ter birth control pills.
Perpetrators and victims because it is girls who talk about their problems. In
For a decade, BRIS has compiled annual perpetrator total, eight out of ten supportive child contacts with • 17-year-old girl calls about her stepfather who
profiles from the children’s information in these BRIS concern girls. sexually abuses her every night. Has been going on
15

16. the bris report 2005 : Children and violence
for 2 years. He threatens her and says that she will There are several groups of adults that abuse regard to further training of employees in schools,
not manage if she tells anyone. She takes pills that their position of power for assault. Similar expe- the social services, the police and the justice system.
close her off to be able to stand it. Has two younger riences are had by children victimised by violence or During 2005 BRIS has reacted to a few cases in
siblings whom she does not dare leave out of fear sexual abuse perpetrated by persons on whom they particular where the courts, despite more stringent
that they will also have problems. Her mother does are dependent in various ways, such as leaders, legislation, have reduced sentences and damages in
not know anything. teachers or treatment personnel. courts of appeal with regard to damages to children
All too often our volunteers note after the call as the victims of crime in sexual abuse.
The child protects the attacker that the child does not want to tell anyone about “For many years we have criticized the ignorance
When a close relative abuses the child, it is a double what is happening. It is possible to speak ano- of and lack of a child-based perspective in Swedish
betrayal: the person, who above all should protect nymously to BRIS, but not to anyone else. The same courts. Psychological assault is often enough to
the child, abuses this dependency for violence. The applies to the BRIS-mail, where children and young make a child not resist. And an assault in childhood
last stronghold of trust crumbles when what should people write and explain incognito, but then do not lasts longer than if it happened at an adult age,”
be an adult support turns into its opposite. At BRIS want to go any further. says Göran Harnesk, General Secretary of BRIS. Also
we constantly hear of how feelings of shame and see Ask the lawyer, chapter 3.
guilt get the upper hand over the child. Children Inadequate professionalism
easily assume blame themselves, especially when a BRIS also learns of children’s experiences of contacts 4.2 Violence between children
close adult is the perpetrator. with authorities in association with physical and An important starting point is to primarily view
For a violated child, trust in the adult world is sexual abuse. As in other contexts, here there is violence between children as an expression of
already damaged – and it is from this perspective naturally an under-representation of the cases where vulnerability, insecurity and a sense of being lost in
that children sometimes look around to find help. children quickly and correctly find good help and life. On commission of the Government, the National
The smallest doubt or signals that it will not hold treatment. The signals to BRIS show in the meantime Agency for Education and the Swedish National
the entire way can however get the child to back-out that society all too often fails to provide the most Agency for School Improvement have coined the
entirely. Not daring to tell, not believing it will make vulnerable children fast and professional help. overall term “abusive treatment” when equal rights
any difference – or believing it will just get worse, Among the questions that come to BRIS’ legal are violated. All schools must have plans of action
not knowing what is happening – are all adequate queries, many concern how to go about making a against abusive treatment, which includes sexual
reasons for a child to stay silent. report and how an investigation is done. How are harassment and racism, among other things.
Frequently they themselves also paint pictures of hearings conducted? Does one have to testify in the The term also includes bullying, but what
threatening trials, prison sentences, splitting the presence of others? Who will protect me afterwards? distinguishes bullying is that the victim is offended
family, etc. What happens to the person I report? Today there on several occasions and that there is an imbalance
are many good examples and trials with regard to in power between perpetrator and victim.
Disadvantaged and dependent making it easier for children to make a report, but
In the background lies the drastic conflict of loyalty for most of the children it is a complicated way to Bullying
that arises when one of the parents physically or go. BRIS and others have long called attention to the Bullying is one of the most important problem areas
sexually abuses the child. What happens with the need for improved collaboration between different in BRIS’ history. During the mid-1990s, the statistics
family if a report is made? And will anyone believe actors as well as increased competence of those who exploded and bullying became the most common
what the child says? For many children, the strategy will meet vulnerable children in various contexts. reason for children to contact BRIS up to the last few
becomes thinking instead about the possibility of There is a great deal left to do on the treatment of years. With the e-mail services, mental illness and
themselves leaving the home environment and the children in crisis both with regard to simplification family conflicts have however become the areas
possibility of getting a foster family. and clarification on an organisational level and with most on the rise.
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17. the bris report 2005 : Children and violence
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18. the bris report 2005 : Children and violence
The contacts about bullying have in the last few subjected to beating and sexually explicit verbal view is still that there are children in far too many
years been somewhat constant, but are primarily abuse. Now they don’t dare walk home. Their cases who do not get the support to which they are
made over the phone; victimisation due to bullying parents must pick them up. The headmaster does entitled. Victimisation is doubled when the child
is something children and young people want to talk nothing, a report to the National Board of Education calls the situation to the attention of adults, but is
about. This topic is twice as common among just sits on a pile. not believed. Or that the responsibility is put back
contacts with boys as with girls. More than one out on them: “You just have to get a little tougher!”
of five BRIS contacts with boys deal with bullying • 11-year-old boy who says that several older boys
compared to one out of ten for girls. have threatened to set him on fire because he has • They tease me the whole time because I am
braces. He is very scared. Muslim. Once they forced me to eat pork. When I
Bullies and bullied told my dad, he got angry with me. I tell the teachers
We know that bullying almost always takes place in Insufficient adult support but they just say that I have to get a little tougher.
school. With regard to perpetrators/bullies, mixed- BRIS’ experience is that children try in many ways to Boy age 12
gender groups have been the most common way of handle the bullying on their own and that it often
bullying in the last few years, which is the case in seems difficult to get the right help from adults. It is therefore important as an adult to remember
almost half of all cases. Many times the victim has told people in charge at that bullying and harassment can never be written
Otherwise, boys are more often bullies than their school without success. The inability of the off as “normal trouble between kids”. The children’s
girls. Bullying of different kinds is primarily brought school world to deal with bullying is similar to stories from their own perspective proves the
up by younger children up to the lower teens and previous years, despite action plans and directives opposite: their lacking self-esteem, joy of life, and
the share of contacts decreases as age increases. The from above. possibility to learn and develop influence their
bullying that takes place at higher ages is also done entire life situation. Not being accepted, being
to a lesser extent by groups than by individuals. • Standing on the side of the bullied is much more frozen out and belittled leaves particularly serious
What we recognise is the timeless nature of difficult. I don’t think there is one GOOD adult to scars on a growing child who is in the midst of
bullying. It is about freezing someone out, spreading rely on at my school, you have no idea! I have getting to know and develop his or her personality.
rumours and false accusations. Here there are spoken with my teacher about this but she got ideas Because adult support so often fails, it affects the
wrecked bicycles, soaked clothes, constant insults and I had to talk to the counsellor!! Hello... Boy age 15 children’s way of handling the situation. One way is to
about looks, background etc. And of course pure normalise the situation and accept that “I deserve
personal violence: kicks, hits, locking someone in, • I hate all adults. I’ve been bullied for 4 years so I this”. BRIS has contact with many children who
spraying with water, holding the head down in the had a panic attack when I started at the new school. describe how they keep a stiff upper lip, put up with it,
toilette. The list goes on. Then I had to go to a bunch of meetings where become invisible, dream themselves away and belittle
everyone stares me down… Girl age 14 themselves. For these children, it also translates to a
• Girl, age 15, who is crying and starts the call by destructive behaviour – to themselves or others.
saying she “does not want to live any longer”. It The lack of adult support that many children
turns out that she has been bullied for 7 years and it describe is particularly serious because it is through Setting clear boundaries
is just getting worse. Today classmates threw all of the presence of clear and confident adults that It is therefore important to realise that the bullying
her clothes in the shower in PE. much of the bullying can be prevented. Of course is primarily tied to the group. When worry and
there is an under-representation in BRIS’ materials stress arise in a group, when the rules of conduct or
• A 14-year-old girl calls and says that she and her of the cases where children receive quick and the leadership is unclear, when the individual is not
friend have been physically abused by a gang of boys intelligent support and help from adults because sure of where she or he belongs or feels they are
who constantly fight with them. They have been there is then seldom reason to contact us. But our called into question – then the mechanisms of
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19. the bris report 2005 : Children and violence
rejection arise. It is the obligation of the adults in • The girls in my class have written a load of nasty
charge to see to it that boundaries are set for this. things to me on lunar like “Damned anal cunt”
In BRIS’ contacts there are also a number of child- “Freaking Idiot” “Geek” and “I’m gonna bully you to
ren who describe themselves as bullies, and who do death” …Girl, age 12
not know how to quit, to “change roles”. Here too,
the school’s adults have an important job: to help • A few “mates” in school have spread a picture of him
children in constructive role changes, to find good when he was drunk and vomited at a party. After that
ways of getting affirmation and being seen. he has received a load of cruel nicknames and everyone
laughs at him. He is afraid that his parents will find out.
Virtual bullying Also see 4.4 Destructive contacts on the Internet.
Along with new arenas being made available, we
have in the last few years received a small, but Teacher training
growing number of contacts that deal with new In a 2004 debate article in Dagens Nyheter, BRIS
kinds of harassment. Through the Internet and brought up the issue of the responsibility of adults in
mobile telephone, bullying has found a new arena. school in cases of bullying. Focus was placed on the
Through e-mail, guest book postings and photo- teacher colleges’ insufficient training in preventative
graphs on websites, comments on chat pages and in work. The quality of training at all schools of educa-
text messages, children and young people have had tion in the country was surveyed and assessed. The
to put up with persecution of various kinds, which results showed that only two of the country’s training
when done repeatedly could be called virtual programmes for new teachers gave them adequate
bullying. Through the Internet’s fast circulation proficiency. Therefore BRIS demanded that the Govern-
ability, things can gain unmanageable proportions ment charge the National Agency for Higher Education
for a child, such as when anonymous threats fill the with reviewing teacher training programmes to better
mobile’s display, or pictures are published or e- adapt them to an adult presence in schools with ade-
mailed on the Net for everlasting circulation. In quate competence to combat the violation of students.
2005 BRIS had more than 700 contacts with
children and young people that dealt with IT- Perpetrators of the same age
related issues and problems. It is among these A clear trend in the child contacts of 2005 is the
contacts that this kind of bullying is touched upon. marked rise in perpetrators of the same age with
regard to physical and sexual abuse. In physical
• I don’t know what to do, a girl wrote that I’m abuse, the share of same-age perpetrators rose to
ugly!! Then I wrote that she was stupid. And she’s 22% from 15% the year before. 30% of the sexual
dissing me on msn and writing a bunch of mean abuse/molestation was committed by a contem-
things about me: retard ! cunt! Girl, age 13 porary. In 2004 this figure was 24%. See perpetrator
figures pp. 14/15. These same-age perpetrators are
• They wrote that I’m like fat, stupid and a little usually boyfriends or contemporaries known to the
“retarded” and they published my mobile number on victims from their surroundings/circle of acquain-
the page where they wrote: “If you want to call a real tances. Siblings, unknown contemporaries or, on
idiot” and then my e-mail address. Boy, age 14 rare occasions, girlfriends can also be perpetrators.
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20. the bris report 2005 : Children and violence
• A 15-year-old girl has been raped and beaten by means 4,001 contacts in this area, which includes
her 18-year-old boyfriend. She is ashamed of it and self-destructiveness, suicide/thoughts of suicide,
has not dared tell anyone. This was not the first time eating disorders and other mental illness. A very
it has happened. large majority, 90%, concern girls. This picture is
also confirmed in BRIS Adult Helpline. See chapter
• A 14-year-old girl says that a gang of boys usually 2, figure 2, and chapter 6 on the Adult Helpline.
comes to her school and they pull girls in some-
where and have unprotected sex with them. She Loneliness and lack of adults
feels this is humiliating, but sees no solution. She What is striking is that these children and young
thinks the adults know about it and see it, but do people basically express a great loneliness that
not care. “Am I pregnant?” she wonders. permeates their thoughts, feelings and actions. They
tell of both an outer and inner loneliness. The purely
Sometimes the share of same-age perpetrators varies physical loneliness expresses itself in them seldom
strongly from year to year. The difference this year is having someone to talk to or do things with. They also
that the trend is clear with regard to physical and live with an inner alienation where they describe
sexual abuse. The influx of BRIS contacts with children confusion in what they feel, think and do. The feeling
and young people about bullying and mental illness of loneliness is then amplified by the lack of adults in
shows that an increasing number of young people are their lives who can help them get their inner lives in
not doing well. The extent of a connection to the per- order. These children and young people often express
centage of young perpetrators in this context is unclear. a clear worry and fear of not being able to find help.
BRIS finds it very worrying that young people that are
• 13-year-old boy says that when he goes skateboar- doing so poorly do not seem to have the adult support
ding there is a gang of immigrants that rob and beat they need. A central function of society is helping to
him. He has reported them to the police once, but it find adults that can help these children deal with their
all ended with the gang beating him again. various thoughts and feelings and offer hope that the
state of things can be changed for the better.
4.3 Self-inflicted violence and
mental illness • I am a guy who’ll soon turn 16 and I really have a
Since 2002 BRIS has been sounding the alarm that big problem. I am almost always alone. I have hardly
many girls who e-mail have contemplated suicide any friends. I simply don’t dare to do things. It just
for a long time, and some of them have made gets worse and worse...
several attempts to end their life. It is also common
that girls with suicidal and self-destructive tenden- • I feel alone even if I have loads of friends! why is
cies have little faith in adults and have prior this? I can talk with my friends and things but I
negative experience of professional help. BRIS don’t know why I feel so lonely:( Girl, age 13.
demanded therefore that the government make
large investments in preventative measures. Self-mutilation most common
In 2005 mental illness was mentioned in one There were 1,576 supportive contacts with children
out of five supportive child contacts with BRIS. This and young people that directly dealt with self-
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21. the bris report 2005 : Children and violence
destructiveness. These most often consist of injuring Medication taking it? Are the pills what makes me feel stupid in
oneself by mutilation. Here there is a broad group During the year BRIS has received a large number of school? are some of the questions. Some of the
with many underlying causes of their psychological calls and e-mails about medication and pills. Almost contacts also tell of pills as a form of intoxication in
suffering that also shows varying degrees of severity 500 of the child contacts brought this up. Here too connection with alcohol consumption. For example,
in the mutilation. The common denominator is the overwhelming majority are about girls who in some young people are worried that they both take
however that they often tried in vain to get the adult various ways use medication against psychological pills and drink alcohol on the weekends.
world to react at the start of their self-destructive problems.
path, which led to increased worry and anxiety. The majority of the contacts deal with young • 16-year-old girl who says that she will kill herself.
Their internal stress then rose and the ensuing people who describe the use of different kinds of She has the pills in front of her, takes sleeping pills,
increase in pain was in turn deadened by more medicines to counter anxiety or panic attacks or to sedatives and neuroleptics. She “snorts” sleeping
mutilation. Many describe how they at the time have the strength to live or to feel better etc. It is medication to get a faster rush. Has not gone to
experience a certain relief because the psychological often unclear what medicine they use, but they are school in the autumn as she couldn’t manage after
pain is embodied in physical pain, visible blood and most often called “anti-depressants” or “happy being committed to the child psychiatry ward.
scars. This is also a kind of cry for help, showing pills”.
their surroundings that they need attention. Many of those who take medication also tell of
• “I don’t know what I should do? I suffer anxiety conflicts with their parents and tough family
• I sit at the desk and feel how horrible life is… about everything. Have lost my appetite. Never want situations, and that they feel very vulnerable and
want to cry, but the tears don’t come… feel the dull to do anything. Take medicine against depression alone in their harsh family situation.
knife hard against my hip and pull… Girl, age 13 but don’t think it helps. Hate my life. What the hell
should I do?” E-mail, boy, age 17 • I take antidepp pills – my dad and his girlfriend
• I have thoughts of suicide. I cut myself because and mum and her boyfriend have alcohol problems –
just for a while I want to feel pain somewhere else Many describe that the medication does not help I can’t talk with anyone. What I want is to have
than in my heart. I just cut harder and harder every and that they have been given different prescrip- someone to talk to – maybe a contact family. 16-
time... Girl, age 15 tions over time; some also question if the prescrip- year-old girl.
tions are meaningful. A few feel pressured to take
• hi .. I’m a 12 year old girl who thinks about suicide... the medicine even though they themselves do not Whether or not prescribing psycho-pharmaceuticals
I just can’t carry on living anymore. don’t dare talk to my want to and wonder where they can turn to get in difficult family situations is for the child’s best, is
parents… is there any way for me to want to live again? effective help. an important question. BRIS thinks that it can more
be a matter of resource shortages that lead to the
• why live? why even breath? i don’t think i’m • I’ve moved in with my boyfriend after loads of child only getting medicine in these situations,
important anywhere and never dare believe in trouble at home I wish they weren’t so demanding I instead of or without parallel treatment. Also see
people that say ugly me is good enough. Boy, age 16 take medicine but I have no psychiatric contact Children and family, chapter 5.
beyond the medicine.
• 15-year-old girl who describes her life as chaotic. Boys’ poor mental health
She heard voices in her head and after that her It is notable that few who take these anti-depressive In 2005 BRIS also chose to put the spotlight on the
parents contacted a child psychiatrist and got the medications describe having an ongoing supportive poor mental health of boys through a debate article
medicine Valium. There was also a counsellor discussion contact at the same time. They also in Dagens Nyheter, among other things. In this area,
contact at her school, but now she has also started describe worry about the pharmaceutical product’s for the last three years BRIS has been warning of the
seeing pictures in her head. Frightening scenes… potential side effects: Does it affect looks? Can I stop explosive increase in signs of serious mental illness
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22. the bris report 2005 : Children and violence
among our teenage girls, primarily in the e-mails Can’t deal with everything being a problem. This is anyone I knew but an old 53 year old man. He said
about self-destructive behaviour and problems of the last try. Help me damned it. that he knew where I live and that I should watch
suicide. But even if the girls can have an aggressive out for him. I’M SCARED!
self-contempt, it is BRIS experience that they at the “An important issue is how society at an early stage
same time are verbally expressive and seek help. will be able to help boys express their feelings in • I want to warn everyone about meeting someone
Eight out of ten supportive contacts during 2005 words. We must also find out more about what tools from the Internet. The guy I was supposed to meet
were about girls. boys themselves feel they need to be able to make got me to... yeah, imagine all of the idiots you know
In spite of this we have approximately 4,000 themselves understood and be treated when they and then add them all up and times that by three.
calls and e-mails from boys annually that speak of have problems,” says Göran Harnesk BRIS General Then you’ll get how many stupid things I did. I
how tough their lives can be. Looking at the boys’ Secretary. started drinking, cut myself, was involved in an
contacts with BRIS, they are over-represented in the awful assault, started to abuse pain pills, I was
areas of bullying and physical abuse, sexuality and 4.4 Destructive contacts over dying.
sexual development. the Internet I’m not saying this will happen to all of the girls
We also know that in total there are about as In 2004 we could clearly see a distinct increase in that meet someone on the Internet, but it did to me,
many boys as girls who contact BRIS, but the destructive contacts over the Internet. This negative please don’t do it.
problem is that they most often are not able to trend has since continued in 2005 as well. The
formulate themselves in a manner indicative of Internet is often used as a tool to harm other people. • Hi, six months ago I made a film of myself. I was
seeking help. Instead of ending up in our documen- This can involve bullying over the Internet (see the undressed and I sent it to my boyfriend. Now we’re
ted statistics over supportive contacts, the boys are heading Virtual bullying in this chapter), spreading not together anymore, but all the time he threatens
found among the test calls. These contain too little lies about someone or posting private information me with putting the film out on the Net if we don’t
information to be able to be documented seriously, about people. It often involves a young person have sex. I really don’t want to but don’t know what
but our studies show that many boys have a need of having had a contact on the Internet that was I should do. Is there anyone that has any good
testing us and that they often do so in a provocative perceived as trustworthy, for example a boyfriend or advice? Don’t tell me to talk to mum because I don’t
manner with sexually explicit words and shouts, an older person who in various ways expresses a dare…
among other things, that are mixed with incomplete desire to help in a tough situation.
messages about their own victimisation. The child/young person has often shared private Other things that are brought up are contacts where
While the girls cry for help by cutting themselves thoughts, or even pictures of him or herself, with or a child or young person has found out that someone
and taking pills, boys and young men succeed in without clothes. This can be done by e-mailing wants to commit suicide in confidence. This can be a
their suicide attempts to a substantially greater pictures or through a web cam. person close or someone that they do not at all
extent (NASP 2001, 2002). BRIS’ experience shows Here many bear witness of the trust being abused know where he or she lives. Many get in touch with
that poor self-esteem, despair and a perception of when the person they have had contact with sends BRIS about their worry and wonder what they
not being good enough often lie behind an extrover- these private pictures or thoughts to others. This is should do.
ted posture. how three young people describe their meeting with It is however important to know that even if
In the boys’ case, underlying depression can also someone they met on the Internet, taken from BRIS many calls and e-mails to BRIS concern destructive
play a role. One boy expresses it like this in an e-mail: Discussion Forum: meetings over the Internet, the majority of the
contacts are positive. Many of the children and
• Now death is close. Wounds on my wrists. Suicide. • Hi! I’m really scared! A guy on lunarstorm contac- young people who contact BRIS about this, describe
It’s not getting better. Bad start in life. No help. ted me and I thought it was someone I knew… I friendship, love and joy and that the Internet has
School doesn’t give a damn, no body gives a damn. answered him but then it turned out that it wasn’t given them friends for life.
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photo: lena granefeltr