Veilig Thuis handled nearly 6,500 chat conversations in August, more than double the number recorded in the previous month. The increase followed the introduction of a round-the-clock chat service for people seeking help or advice about domestic violence and child abuse.
The organisation reports that more conversations now take place outside office hours than during them.
Previously, the chat service was only available during office hours. People could still call Veilig Thuis outside those hours, but only in cases involving immediate safety concerns, a spokesperson said.
The 24/7 chat service can be used for any reason, and conversations can last for hours if needed. “For example, you might hear neighbours arguing at night, or lie in bed thinking about a situation you saw earlier in the day,” the spokesperson said. Victims can also seek help through chat without making any noise.
The expansion of the service was made possible by a proposal from JA21 MP Ingrid Coenradie. She secured unanimous support in the House of Representatives for a measure providing €2.5 million in annual funding to keep the chat service available around the clock.
According to the Veilig Thuis spokesperson, the funding is sufficient, although “it was a puzzle” to make it work.
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