More than half (52%) of all support provided by Childline last year was to children struggling with mental and emotional health issues.
Between April 2024 and March 2025, the NSPCC-run service delivered 82,882 counselling sessions to young people about their mental wellbeing – an average of almost 230 sessions a day.
The top concerns raised when young people discussed their mental health included:
- Anxiety,
- Suicidal thoughts and feelings,
- Stress,
- Self-harm,
- Depression.
The service also saw a 6% annual increase in counselling sessions related to anger issues, with children discussing how they might throw objects or slam doors when struggling with their temper.
One girl, aged 15, told Childline: “I feel so anxious and overwhelmed. I want to talk about how I’m feeling but I don’t know how. I even panic about having these feelings, it’s so stupid. I worry about everything, school, not being good enough, what people think about me, and a lot of the time I know I’m worrying about nothing. I have to act as though everything is fine around everyone else; I bottle it all up then cry when I’m alone.”
Childline is releasing this data to support its new campaign, ‘Race To A Milli’, funded by Lidl GB. The campaign shows TikTok stars,?Makai?Fray and Joe Leggett, competing head-to-head to be the first to reach 1 million “likes” for completing a series of challenges assigned by Rio Federika.
What the pair don’t know is that the tasks are a digital stress test, aimed at challenging their resilience to things including peer pressure, hateful comments and rage bait.
With data from Ofcom highlighting that children spend nearly three hours on their devices per day rising to over six hours on average for young adults, the new Childline campaign highlights the need for device-free time and includes a discussion between Makai and Joe on the ways social media has impacted their mental health.
Childline is also hearing from young people on the issue of spending large amounts of time online, with one boy telling the service: “I’m struggling with being chronically online. I doom scroll all the time then feel so sluggish and worthless because I’m not doing anything. I know it’s making my depression worse, and I should exercise or go outside at least but I just keep scrolling”
As always, Childline is available to provide free and confidential advice to children who may be struggling with their mental health, or any other worries.
To support children who might be struggling with their mental health, especially when going online, the charity has released a series of tips:
- Take regular breaks from your screen: Notice how scrolling makes you feel. If you’re feeling anxious, comparing yourself to others, or stuck in a doom-scrolling cycle, it’s time to step away. Even 10-15 minutes doing something offline can help reset your mood.
- Talk about how you’re feeling: You don’t have to bottle things up. Whether it’s a friend, family member, teacher, or Childline counsellor, sharing what’s on your mind can help you feel less alone and find ways to cope.
- Curate your online space: Unfollow accounts that make you feel bad about yourself and seek out content that’s positive or helpful. Remember, social media often shows highlight reels, not reality. You’re in control of what you see.
- Do something that makes you feel good: Whether it’s going for a walk, listening to music, drawing, playing sport, or spending time with people you care about, make time for activities that lift your mood and help you recharge.
- Remember that asking for help is a strength, not a weakness: If you’re struggling, reaching out shows courage. Childline is always available by phone (0800 1111), or online chat. You deserve support.
Childline is available to young people by phone on 0800 1111 and online via the 121?chat?on the?Childline website.?