Safety and helplines

Draft for review. This text has not yet been checked by a lawyer. Do not take payments until it has been.

Last updated: November 2026

Most of this guide is about understanding your child and talking with them. This page is for the moments when you need help straight away.

This guide is not emergency help

If a child is in immediate danger, or someone may harm themselves, call the police on 112 now. Do not wait for the next issue, and do not rely on this website. The guide gives general information. It does not replace a doctor, counsellor, lawyer or the police.

Helplines in India

• Childline 1098: free, 24 hours, for any child who needs care or protection, and for anyone worried about a child.
• Tele-MANAS 14416: free mental health support, 24 hours, in many languages.
• Cybercrime helpline 1930 and cybercrime.gov.in: report online fraud, blackmail, harassment and abuse.

Numbers can change. [OWNER: re-check every number above before launch.]

Reach out for help soon if you notice

• talk of self-harm, or of not wanting to live;
• threats, blackmail, or demands for money or pictures;
• an adult or stranger who asks your child to keep secrets;
• a sudden, lasting change in sleep, eating, mood, school or friends.

These can have many causes, and most of the time there is a way through. A calm, early conversation and a professional’s help make a real difference.

If something has happened

1. Stay calm and listen. Your child needs to know they are not in trouble for telling you.
2. Do not punish, shame or take away everything. That can stop them telling you next time.
3. Keep evidence: take screenshots of messages and profiles. Do not delete them.
4. Report it using the helplines above, and talk to a qualified professional.

Who writes this guide

This guide is written by the Gen Z Parent Guide team. We are not doctors, psychologists or therapists, and our issues have not been clinically reviewed. They are general information to help you start calm conversations. For anything that worries you, please use the helplines above or speak to a qualified professional.