11-05-2025
Rise in anger issues among children blamed on 'growing emotional challenges' including social media
Childline is reporting a rise in the number of callers with 'anger issues' amid 'growing emotional challenges' among youngsters today.
The charity said it provided 2,895 counselling sessions for children with anger in 2024/25, a six per cent increase on the previous year.
Anger issues ranked among the top ten mental health concerns reported by children contacting the service – among boys it was sixth and among girls it was tenth.
Reoccurring themes in the counselling sessions included anger at parents and friends, while many young people also felt anger at themselves.
The charity said many were engaged in 'negative self-talk', for example, wishing they were 'smarter, less useless, less ugly'.
It is thought increased time on social media may be a contributor to youth anger, due to online bullying and a lack of interactions in the real world.
Pressures on family finances from the rising cost of living and exam stress are also sources of anger.
One boy, aged 15, told Childline: 'For months I've been struggling with my anger.
'I started punching the wall, but I had to stop because it was messing up my knuckles.'
Meanwhile, a girl aged nine, said: 'I feel so angry all the time, shouting is just how I express myself.'
Shaun Friel, Childline director, said: 'The fact that children are reaching out for help about their anger issues reflects the growing emotional challenges young people face in today's complex world.
'At Childline, we're seeing firsthand how pressures at home, school, online and in communities are affecting children's ability to manage and deal with difficult emotions.'
The charity warned parents to look for signs of 'emotional struggles', such as shifts in sleeping patterns, appetite, social withdrawal, or increased irritability.
It said families should 'normalise seeking help' by 'talking positively about therapy, counselling and support services'.
