Skip to content.

Helplines insight briefing

Publication date March 2024
Challenges young people are facing around sexuality and gender identity

This briefing uses insight from Childline counselling sessions and NSPCC Helpline contacts from 2022/23 about sexuality and gender identity.

Some young people who are LGBTQ+ will have supportive experiences as they explore their sexuality and gender identity. However, some young people face pressures or challenges.

Key themes include:

  • coming out to the family
  • conversion practices
  • pressures in school
  • pressure to choose a label
  • young people struggling with guilt and self-acceptance.
Challenges young people are facing around sexuality and gender identity
Download the briefing (PDF)
“I’m being bullied at school for “not acting like my gender” but I feel like I have no one I can tell. I haven’t come out as non-binary. I don’t think my teachers or parents would get it and I’m still working out if that is my label. How can I explain that’s what I’m being bullied for when I’m not ready to come out yet?”

Young person, aged 16, Childline
“I’m calling in relation to my teenage son. A couple of months ago I noticed a change in his mood and after a bit he mentioned he’s questioning if he’s gay. I haven’t told my husband yet as I’m afraid how he might react, and I think my son feels the same; his dad has openly made negative comments about LGBTQ people before. I want my son to know he can talk to me about this, but don’t know how to start that conversation”

Parent, NSPCC Helpline

Citation

Please cite as: NSPCC (2024) Challenges young people are facing around sexuality and gender identity. London: NSPCC

Childline and NSPCC Helpline insight briefings

Our insight briefings use data and insight from Childline counselling sessions and NSPCC Helpline contacts to explore concerns children and young people have raised and how these affect them.

See the full series

Related resources

Two young people standing outside together
Featured

Safeguarding LGBTQ+ children and young people

Explains why LGBTQ+ children might be at greater risk of some types of abuse and shares best practice for professionals on supporting and protecting them.

Find out more
Teacher engaging in a classroom activity with school pupils
Featured

How young people are learning about relationships, sex and sexuality

We commissioned an exploratory research project to find out how young people's views and recommendations for relationships, sex and sexuality education. 

View report
Young person in conversation with an adult
Featured

Safeguarding 16-25 year olds training

Our online course will help you to understand your safeguarding responsibilities and learn how to act appropriately and confidently to protect the young people you work with.

View the course

More about our helplines

Childline
Featured

Childline

Childline is the UK’s free, 24-hour service for children and young people. Run by the NSPCC, Childline gives children and young people up to the age of 19 confidential support with whatever is worrying them. 

Find out more
Statistics
Featured

Childline and NSPCC Helpline statistics

Find out more about the calls and contacts received by our helpline services.

Learn more
NSPCC Helpline
Featured

NSPCC Helpline

The NSPCC Helpline can help with safeguarding situations you could face at work. If you need advice and support, or some simple reassurance on a current safeguarding incident, we're here to help.

Find out more