Anger and aggression are the leading cause for concern among parents, according to new figures from Parentline.
Those topics accounted for a third of calls, up slightly from 2022.
Anxiety related contacts were consistent at 9% and refusing to go to school 7%.
Parentline CEO Aileen Hickie told Newstalk the figure around anger and aggression rises further when verbal abuse, physical abuse or violence and controlling behaviour is factored in.
This is primarily by teenagers and mostly towards their mothers.
Ms Hickie has described it as domestic violence.
"Domestic violence is often thought about as being only partner to partner, but it is any violence or abuse that takes place in a domestic setting,” she said.
"This leaves parents left feeling “ashamed, powerless and alone."
Vaping
Vaping emerged as a new concern last year, it accounted for about 1% of all calls.
“That might not sound high but considering its the first time it has come in as an issue of concern, that is quite high,” Ms Hickie said.
Callers reported children as young as 10 or 11 years old who are “getting their hands on vapes,” because of easy availability.
The helpline recorded 6,147 calls in total last year, a record year and a 5% increase on 2022.
A reasonable estimate of 1% would be about 61.
Ms Hickie said the aspects of vaping that worry callers the most are the fact they don’t know the short- or long-term effects of vaping, and the easy availability of the devices.
“They’ve certainly seen a mood disorder among their children, they feel their children find it more difficult to learn," she said.
Parents are also worried about the effects of vaping on their child’s overall health, on their teenagers’ brains and the potential for addiction.
Support
The helpline says calls around Postnatal Depression rise from very small numbers in 2022 up to 1.4% of calls in 2023, with a total of almost 100.
Ms Hickie strongly urged parents to get in touch if they have any queries or worries.
"A lot of the issues they’re dealing with can lead to a sense of shame or a sense of silence, these are not problems parents are prepared to discuss with their neighbours or their friends or family, or at the school gate," she added.
Anyone affected by issues raised in this article can contact Parentline on 01 8733 500 or www.parentline.ie
Additional reporting by Teena Gates.
