Parentline News
Vaping emerges as growing concern for parents across Ireland, findings from Parentline show
- Findings from Parentline’s 2023 Report highlight anger and aggression as the leading concern from calling parents.
- Notable trends, in addition to the emergence of vaping as a concern for parents, include the increase in calls from fathers and callers aged 30 - 39 years old.
- School refusal accounted for 7% of all calls made to the helpline last year.
Parentline, a leading helpline providing support to parents and caregivers, has announced that 2023 marked another record-breaking year for the organisation. With a 5% increase in calls compared to the previous year, Parentline recorded 6147 helpline calls throughout the year, demonstrating the growing demand for parental support services across Ireland.
Parentline's 2023 Report highlights notable shifts in caller demographics and emerging concerns. Findings from the report include a substantial increase in male callers, comprising 24% of total calls, up from 17% in 2022. Additionally, there was a remarkable 100% plus increase in callers aged 30 - 39 years, constituting 25% of total calls, compared to 12% in 2022.
Speaking on the findings of the report, CEO Aileen Hickie, said: “When Parentline was established almost 100% of the calls came from mothers - in the intervening years the number of fathers calling the helpline is increasing all the time. Calls from fathers now represent almost one quarter of all calls. The content of calls from fathers has also changed; 20 years ago fathers used to ask ‘how they could support their wife with her parenting’, and the calls from fathers now show they are playing a much more active role in parenting and there is no difference between the parenting issues raised by men and women.”
The data also revealed that one in three calls received were from first-time callers; concerns regarding female children accounted for 44% of calls, while concerns regarding male children constituted 56% of calls. Moreover, calls concerning adult children aged 18 to 25 years saw an increase from 12% in 2022 to 18% in 2023.
Over half of all calls (50%) related to concerns regarding children aged between 13 - 17 years. Anger and aggression emerged as a leading issue for parents, constituting one-third of all calls, marking an increase from 28% in 2022.
“Calls from parents referencing anger and aggression continue to dominate the helplines with over one third of all calls being from parents concerned with this issue. This rises further when you add in verbal abuse, physical abuse, violence or controlling behaviours. All of these issues are covered by the general term of child to parent violence. This is where the parent is left in fear of their own child in their own home because of the behaviours being directed at them. This is the unspoken side of domestic violence. Domestic violence is often thought about as being only partner to partner abuse but it is any violence or abuse that takes place in a domestic setting. Child to parent violence is another form of domestic violence. It leaves parents feeling ashamed, powerless and alone,” added Hickie.
Furthermore, vaping emerged as a new concern, representing 1% of all calls, highlighting the evolving landscape of parental concerns.
Commenting on the emergence of vaping as a concern for parents, Hickie said:“Over the years one of the helpline call areas has been parents concerned by their children smoking. Last yesr for the first time, vaping was an issue for parents ringing the helplines. The parents were concerned about the easy availability of vapes and the long-term effects as well as concerns that they were increasing childhood anxiety in the short term.”
Parentline remains dedicated to providing crucial support and guidance to parents and caregivers navigating the complexities of raising children in today's Ireland. The organisation acknowledges the evolving nature of parental concerns and reaffirms its commitment to offering compassionate assistance to families in need.
