Thousands contacted Childline over sexuality and gender identity last year

Thousands of young people contacted Childline about sexuality and gender identity concerns last year.

New figures released ahead of Pride Month show the service delivered 2,457 counselling sessions on the issue during 2025/26, with coming out the most common concern.

Of those sessions, 1,060 (43%) focused on coming out, with young people telling counsellors they were worried about how their parents would react, feared being alienated by friendship groups and were struggling with the impact on their mental health.

Counselling sessions relating to gender dysphoria increased by 20% year-on-year

One 17-year-old boy told the service: “I’ve only recently started accepting myself as gay after years of bullying. I’ve been freaking out that my parents will find out, because yesterday my cousin texted me saying that they know about me. I’m out at school, but I’m not ready for my whole family to know. I was planning to wait until I moved to college to tell them. I feel like I’m losing control.”

Other concerns raised with Childline included questioning sexuality or gender identity, discrimination and prejudice, and gender dysphoria.

Counselling sessions relating to gender dysphoria increased by 20% year-on-year, rising from 396 in 2024/25 to 476 in 2025/26.

Where gender was known, almost two-thirds (64%) of counselling sessions were with young people who identified as transgender or non-binary. Girls accounted for 22% of sessions, while boys made up 14%.

“At Childline, we regularly hear from those who are scared to come out” – Shaun Friel, Childline director

A trans boy, aged 14, told the service: “I think it’s hard for my mum to accept who I am because of what she reads and sees in the media about other trans teenagers. It’s caused a lot of misunderstanding for her about what being trans means and has created a lot of anger around it.”

Shaun Friel, Childline director, said: “Young people face many difficulties and worries when it comes to sexuality and gender identity.

“At Childline, we regularly hear from those who are scared to come out; expressing anxieties about being judged by their family or alienated by a friend group that doesn’t accept them. We also hear from trans and nonbinary children who feel that they will never be accepted if they come out and that the world is against them.

“Childline is here to be a confidential, and wholly accepting space” – Friel

“This Pride Month, we want to reassure all children that they can reach out to Childline as their authentic selves. Childline is here to be a confidential, and wholly accepting space, where young people can discuss their concerns and feelings freely.”

The figures were released as Childline encourage young people with concerns about sexuality and gender identity to seek support during Pride Month.

Young people can contact Childline free and confidentially on 0800 1111 or via the Childline website.