More than half of UK teenagers (56 per cent) feel overwhelmed in the build-up to Christmas, according to a new poll by The Children’s Society.
It's national survey of nearly 2,000 teenagers, aged 13 to 16 found that deadlines, social media and family expectations leave many young people feeling it is "too much" and feeling festive strain. Almost a third pointed to looming schoolwork and exams, while 28 per cent cited social media – particularly the stream of perfect gifts, parties and family moments filling their feeds. One in five said the hardest part was having to “look happy” when they didn’t feel it.
Social media divided opinion overall: around a quarter of teenagers said it made them feel worse about Christmas, roughly the same as those who said it made them feel better. The biggest online triggers were “perfect family” posts and holidays they couldn’t afford.
Asked what would help, teenagers said they wanted less pressure to perform, and to feel calmer (17 per cent) and to be more understood by the adults around them (12 per cent).
Mark Russell, CEO at The Children’s Society, said: “For many teenagers, Christmas isn’t sparkle and joy - it’s noise and pressure. They’re under constant expectation to keep up, all the while worrying about exams, friendships, or money.
“Right now, too many young people are feeling totally overwhelmed by the noise they face every day. Having someone to talk to before things become overwhelming can change everything."
The Children’s Society is calling for more early support services to be available for teenagers giving them somewhere safe to turn and be listened to as soon as they need it.
The charity, which already provides support and wellbeing services for young people across the UK, says it wants to help teenagers find peace - offering accessible, trained professionals who can help before worries spiral.