WHO: Two out of three young Europeans have been victims of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence

Two out of three young people aged between 18 and 30 in Europe say they have been victims of abuse, neglect, domestic violence or other adverse childhood experiences, according to a survey published Tuesday by the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe and Liverpool John Moores University.

The study was conducted among 26,000 people from European Union countries, Norway and Iceland, and the data was collected between November 2025 and January 2026. One in five respondents said they had experienced at least four types of such experiences. Among those affected, 76.3% needed professional mental health support.

WHO warns that repeated exposure to violence and adversity increases the risk that young people will drop out of education, fail to find a job or live in low-income families. They may also have less trust in others and a weaker sense of belonging to their community. The survey also indicates a higher likelihood of becoming victims of violence or perpetrating it, as well as of being cyberbullied during childhood.

WHO maintains that the problem has social and economic dimensions, not just medical ones, and recommends measures to tackle poverty, social exclusion and community violence. Healthcare and social services, schools and the justice system should identify victims more quickly and support them in order to stop the transmission of trauma to future generations.

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