Childline reports rise in anger issues among children seeking help

Childline has delivered almost 3,000 counselling sessions in the last year to children and young people struggling with anger issues.

It is a 6% rise year-on-year and makes anger one of the top 10 mental health concerns reported by children contacting the service – it is the 6th most common issue reported by boys (10th for girls).

The Childline support service is run by the NSPCC, and the charity has published the figures to mark Mental Health Awareness Week this week.

It says that the data gives an insight into “a generation increasingly struggling to manage and control their emotions” in the face of pressures at home, school and online.

One boy, aged 15, who contacted Childline told counsellors: “For months I’ve been struggling with my anger. I started punching the wall, but I had to stop coz it was messing up my knuckles. Everyone in this house shouts and argues, the noise is too much. My mum always tries to ask me how I am, but I have to lie so I don’t add to the arguments.”

Another girl, aged just 9, confided: "I feel so angry all the time, shouting is just how I express myself. When my parents shout at me, I shout back. They tell me to talk during arguments and tell people how I feel but no one cares, no one listens unless I shout."

The counselling sessions delivered by Childline reveal several recurring themes when the children discussed their anger. Some are struggling with regulating their emotions during challenging situations and often experience frustration with parents and peers following disagreements. Others said that they are aggressively criticising themselves.

Shaun Friel, director of Childline, 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 first-hand how pressures at home, school, online and in communities are affecting children's ability to manage and deal with difficult emotions.

“We want to emphasise how crucial it is for children to learn healthy ways to process and express their feelings. We are also reminding young people that our counsellors are here to provide that safe space and can help them to learn vital skills for their wellbeing."

Childline and mental health charity Place2Be has published five tips for children and young people on how to keep a check on their mental health.

1. Talk to someone you trust: Whether it is a parent, teacher, friend or Childline (0800 1111), sharing how you feel helps. 
2. Find healthy outlets for emotions: Try physical activities, creative expression, journaling, or relaxation techniques. 
3. Take care of your body: Regular sleep, healthy food, and exercise all support good mental health. 
4. Practice mindfulness: Take time each day to focus on your breathing and notice how you're feeling. 
5. Create a feel-good toolkit: Identify activities, people, and places that help you feel calm and happy when you're struggling. 

The two charities have also published five tips for parents worried about their children:

1. Create regular check-in times: Establish consistent opportunities for conversations about feelings, perhaps during dinner, car rides, or before bedtime.
2. Use open-ended questions: Ask "How are you feeling today?" rather than questions that can be answered with just "yes" or "no."
3. Model healthy emotional expression: Show children how you manage your own emotions in a constructive way.
4. Look for changes in behaviour: Notice shifts in sleeping patterns, appetite, social withdrawal, or increased irritability which may signal emotional struggles.
5. Normalise seeking help: Talk positively about therapy, counselling, and support services. 

Dr Rebecca Kirkbride, clinical director at Place2Be, added: "The rise in children seeking support for issues related to anger, as highlighted by Childline's data, demonstrates the importance of early intervention and teaching children healthy ways to process emotions. 

“By creating safe spaces where young people feel heard and validated, we can help them develop the emotional vocabulary and self-regulation skills needed to navigate complex feelings, without expressing feelings through angry or aggressive behaviour – which may have implications for themselves or others around them.”

• Children and young people can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or via www.childline.org.uk. Any adults concerned about a child’s safety or wellbeing can contact the NSPCC helpline at help@nspcc.org.uk or by calling 0808 800 5000.