Childline reports 20 percent rise in gender-related counselling sessions

Counselling sessions delivered by Childline for children questioning their gender identity rose 20 percent in the year to March 2026. The children's charity reported 476 sessions, compared with 396 the previous year. The increase occurred after the publication of a review that described evidence for children's gender treatments as remarkably weak.

Officials subsequently introduced an indefinite ban on routine prescription of puberty blockers to under-18s outside clinical research settings.

Session totals and demographics Childline delivered 2,457 counselling sessions where sexuality or gender identity was the main concern. In sessions where a child's gender was recorded, 64 percent involved young people who identified as transgender or non-binary.

The charity noted that the figures count sessions rather than individual children, so some young people may have contacted the service multiple times.

Concerns about disclosure More than four in ten of the sexuality and gender identity sessions, totalling 1,060, involved worries about telling family members or friends. Young people cited fears of rejection by parents and exclusion from friendship groups.

One 17-year-old boy told counsellors he had only recently accepted himself as gay after years of bullying and was not ready for his family to know.

Statements from the charity and others Childline Director Shaun Friel said young people face many difficulties when it comes to sexuality and gender identity and that the service offers a confidential space. Psychotherapist James Esses said he had seen an increase in children seeking help for gender distress and attributed part of the rise to affirming messages in some schools.