The Cyprus Youth Board hotline 1410 has seen an increase in calls reporting substance abuse, domestic violence, and feelings of anxiety. It has also been contacted by students stranded abroad.
Hoping to do its bit to support young people stuck at home under the lockdown, the Cyprus Youth Board (Onek) has launched initiatives including a lab where volunteers have made 1000 face shields, the paper reports.
Onek officials told the newspaper that the lockdown has seen an increase in the number of people calling for help to manage feelings of fear and anxiety.
There have also been more calls on substance abuse and cases of violence in the family.
A number of parents with small children have called because of frayed nerves in the home, mainly because they no longer have the support offered by grandparents.
Phileleftheros said that the telephone number 22344742 has been receiving calls from abroad, particularly students in the UK.
The callers have reported feeling isolated, frightened and stranded. Calls have also come in from recent arrivals who have called from quarantine.
Onek has been organising group meetings on Skype. It also offered the equipment of Youth Makerspace to volunteers who have made face shields for health care professionals, pharmacists and other professionals and has made a video on spotting Fake News.
Through its online #StayHomeChallenge and #StayHappy initiatives it has invited participants to post how they spend their time at home.
Finally, it participates in the campaign “15 tips for 15 days” where a a different proposal is posted every day.
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