Childline reports that among young people this year, the number of callers for “anger problem” has increased.
The charity said it provided 2,895 consulting sessions for angry children in 2024/25, a 6% increase from the previous year.
Angry Questions Ranked 10th Top Children with Mental Health Issues of the Service – Sixth among Boys and Tenth among Girls.
Reappearing topics at consulting sessions include anger at parents and friends, and many young people are also angry at themselves.
The charity said many people engage in “negative self-talk” and hope they are “smarter, useless, less ugly.”
It is believed that the increased time on social media may be the cause of youth anger due to online bullying and lack of interaction in the real world.
As life and exam pressure increases, family finance pressure is also the source of anger.
Childline reports that the number of callers for young people increased this year’s “angry problem” “anger problem”
A 15-year-old boy told Childline: “For months, I’ve been struggling with my anger.
“I started hitting the wall, but I had to stop because it messed up my knuckles.”
Meanwhile, a nine-year-old girl said, “I’ve always felt angry and yelling is exactly how I express myself.”
Childline director Shaun Friel said: “The fact that children seek help with anger reflects the emotional challenges young people face in today’s complex world.
“At Childline, we have witnessed first-hand how stress in home, school, online and community affects children’s ability to manage and cope with difficult emotions.”
The charity warns parents to look for signs of “emotional struggle” such as changes in sleep patterns, appetite, social withdrawal or increased irritability.
It says families should “seek help normally” by “actively talking about treatment, counseling and support services.”
