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More than half of all Childline counselling sessions support children with mental health struggles

Our new 'Race To A Milli' campaign highlights the need for device-free time

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  • In 2024/25, Childline delivered almost 83,000 counselling sessions to young people with mental and emotional health issues.
  • Top concerns related to this problem included anxiety, depression, and stress.
  • Childline has launched a new campaign to help young people look after their mental wellbeing, especially in the online world.
  • The campaign was made possible through funding by Lidl and is supported by TikTokers Joe Leggett, Makai Fray, and Capital FM’s Rio Fredrika

Childline

Our Childline service offers help and support to thousands of children and young people whenever they need us.

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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, we 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.

We 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."

Our 'Race to a Milli' campaign

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" in a series of challenges assigned by Rio Fredrika.

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. It also includes a discussion between Makai and Joe on the ways social media has impacted their mental health.

On spending large amounts of time online, one boy told Childline:

“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.”

Shaun Friel, Childline Director, said:

"We know that mental health is one of the biggest issues facing young people today. It's something we hear about more than ever, and it can stem from a range of factors, some of which can come from the online world.

"That's why we're delighted to be working with our long-standing partners, Lidl GB, to launch the new ‘Race To A Milli’ campaign. Through Makai, Joe, and Rio's experiences, we're hoping to spark honest conversations about digital resilience and the importance of taking breaks from the online world when it becomes too much.

“When you're spending hours online every day and being exposed to comparison, negativity, and pressure to present a perfect version of yourself, it takes its toll. It's vital that children and young people understand that help is available. Whatever their worry, they can speak to one of our trained Childline counsellors by phone, or online chat. Childline is always here for them."

Tips for children

We’ve released a series of tips to support children who might be struggling with their mental health, especially when going online.

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 at 0800 1111, online chat, or text. You deserve support.

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