Thousands of children are turning to Childline to seek help for Anger issues
New data shows that the NSPCC-service delivered close to 3,000 counselling sessions about the issue, online and over the phone, which is a 6% increase on the previous 12 months.
The rise in contacts on the topic has made anger issues a top ten mental health concern for all genders contacting the service. This data gives insight into a generation increasingly struggling to manage and control their emotions in the face of a range of pressures at home, school, online and in the community.
This Mental Health Awareness Week, Childline is offering advice in dealing with these emotions in a healthy way.
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 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.”
Counselling sessions delivered by Childline reveal several recurring themes when children are discussing anger.
Some are struggling with regulating their emotions during challenging situations and often experience frustration with parents and peers following disagreements. Others are sharing that they are aggressively criticising themselves.
One girl, aged 9, confided to Childline: “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 in arguments and tell people how I feel but no one cares, no one listens unless I shout.”
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.
“This Mental Health Awareness Week, 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.”
As well as encouraging children to contact Childline, the service has been working with children’s mental health charity, Place2Be, to release advice to both young people and parents on how to manage anger issues and look after their mental wellbeing.
Tips for Children on Looking After Their Mental Health:
- Talk to someone you trust: Whether it’s a parent, teacher, friend or Childline (0800 1111), sharing how you feel helps.
- Find healthy outlets for emotions: Try physical activities, creative expression, journaling, or relaxation techniques.
- Take care of your body: Regular sleep, healthy food, and exercise all support good mental health.
- Practice mindfulness: Take time each day to focus on your breathing and notice how you’re feeling.
- Create a feel-good toolkit: Identify activities, people, and places that help you feel calm and happy when you’re struggling.
Tips for Parents on Supporting Children’s Mental Health:
- Create regular check-in times: Establish consistent opportunities for conversations about feelings, perhaps during dinner, car rides, or before bedtime.
- Use open-ended questions: Ask “How are you feeling today?” rather than questions that can be answered with just “yes” or “no.”
- Model healthy emotional expression: Show children how you manage your own emotions in a constructive way.
- Look for changes in behaviour: Notice shifts in sleeping patterns, appetite, social withdrawal, or increased irritability which may signal emotional struggles.
- Normalise seeking help: Talk positively about therapy, counselling, and support services.
Dr Rebecca Kirkbride, Clinical Director at Place2Be, said: “At Place2Be, we know that learning to express and process emotions healthily during childhood builds resilience and establishes positive coping mechanisms that serve young people throughout their lives. 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 can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or 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.
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