**Rising Numbers of Young People in Wales Seek Help for Anger Management**
A sharp increase in anger-related concerns among young people in Wales has been reported, with more children seeking support and guidance from the national charity helpline Childline. Statistical insights released in recent days reveal a notable 6% year-on-year surge in the number of counselling sessions held to address anger issues, with nearly 3,000 interactions occurring over the past twelve months.
This uptick comes at a time when emotional wellbeing among the younger population faces growing challenges. Professionals suggest that children and teenagers today are navigating increasing pressures both at home and in public—be that at school, within their communities, or in online spaces. These stressors appear to be fuelling difficulties in managing intense feelings such as anger.
Childline, an initiative under the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), has highlighted that anger now ranks within the top ten mental health topics raised by both boys and girls contacting the helpline. This signals a shift in the nature of the problems young people are confronting and their willingness to reach out for support.
First-hand testimonies from young callers offer a window into how acute these emotions can become. One 14-year-old girl from Wales bravely shared her account, admitting, “When I get really mad, I throw things, break things, shout, swear. I scare myself honestly but it’s so hard to find things that actually work to calm me down. Childline helps but only when I haven’t broken my phone in anger.” Another secondary school-aged boy described being consumed by rage after a friend’s public humiliation, saying, “All I want to do is hit him even though I know that’s not the best way to deal with it. I need someone to talk me out of it or take this anger away.”
Childline’s team of counsellors reports recurring challenges among young callers. Many children reveal that they struggle to regulate their emotions during arguments or moments of frustration, be it in disagreement with parents, friends, or even when facing personal setbacks. Others admit to internalising their struggles, sometimes becoming highly self-critical and resorting to shouting as their default method of communication. A nine-year-old girl, for example, 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, but no one listens unless I shout.”
Shaun Friel, director of Childline, commented on the growing trend, saying, “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. Pressures at home, school, online and in communities are clearly impacting children’s ability to handle difficult emotions.” He further emphasised that Mental Health Awareness Week serves as a vital reminder of the importance of teaching children how to process their feelings healthily.
To help combat these issues, Childline has teamed up with the children’s mental health charity Place2Be. Practical guidance offered by these organisations includes reaching out to trusted individuals to share concerns, engaging in physical or creative activities as healthy outlets for emotion, and tending to basic wellbeing needs such as sleep, nutrition, and exercise.
Dr Rebecca Kirkbride, clinical director at Place2Be, underscored the need for early intervention. She pointed out, “Learning to express and process emotions healthily during childhood builds resilience and establishes positive coping mechanisms. The rise in children seeking support for issues related to anger shows how vital it is to teach this early on.”
Experts agree that creating safe, validating environments is pivotal to helping youngsters develop the emotional vocabulary and regulation skills they require. Left unchecked, ongoing expressions of anger could have negative consequences both for the individuals themselves and those around them.
As more young people come forward for help, the call for targeted resources and ongoing conversation around mental health in children continues to grow louder—a critical development for schools, families, and support services throughout Wales.