There has been a significant increase in the number of children across England requiring specialist care for serious mental health crises.
NHS data indicates that between April and October 2024, there was a 10% rise in emergency, very urgent, and urgent referrals for under-18s, totalling 34,793, compared to 31,749 in the same period in the previous year. Children in need of emergency care could be presenting with suicidal tendencies or serious issues related to eating disorders, while those needing an urgent referral may be at risk of severe harm.
The data, compiled by the charity YoungMinds for the PA news agency, revealed that from April to October 2024, there were 4,424 “very urgent referrals” to mental health crisis care teams, showing an increase of 13% from 3,912 in the previous year. In addition, the data showed 24,886 “urgent referrals” within the same timeframe, a rise also of 13% from 22,045 the year before. Despite these increases, there was a slight decrease in “emergency referrals” to crisis care teams, which fell by 5% to 5,483 from the previous year’s 5,792 for the same period.
Overall, combined figures denote a 10% escalation in all NHS urgent and emergency care referrals over these months. Looking at October specifically, new liaisons to psychiatry teams from A&E departments saw a 4% upturn, from 2,292 in October 2023 to 2,386 in October 2024.
The liaison psychiatry teams operating within hospitals consist of a multidisciplinary staff including psychiatrists, mental health nurses, psychologists, social workers, and occupational therapists.
Laura Bunt, chief executive at YoungMinds, said: “No young person should reach crisis point with their mental health, but as these concerning figures show, thousands of young people urgently need help. Early support would help prevent many young people from becoming more unwell, but instead their mental health is deteriorating, pushing them into crisis and, in some instances, putting young people’s lives at risk.
“This is a shocking betrayal of young people and their mental health. Growing up today is incredibly tough. Many young people are experiencing multiple pressures including poverty, inequality, intense academic pressure and the online world, so it’s no wonder so many are struggling.
“Tweaks to the system will no longer work. We need major reforms that address the root causes of why so many young people are struggling.”
Dr Elaine Lockhart, chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ child and adolescent faculty, said: “Children and young people are resilient, but the pandemic, cost-of-living crisis and a range of other factors have had a significant impact on their mental health in recent years. We’ve seen a surge in the number of young people experiencing mental health problems partially because of this.
“Mental health services help thousands of young people recover from mental ill-health every year but they’re struggling to manage soaring demand due to staff shortages and a lack of resources. This is contributing to longer waiting lists and more young people reaching a crisis point before they can access the care they need.”
PA has analysed separate data that shows a concerning trend with a 5% increase in one year in hospital admissions involving eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. In the span from 2022/23 to a year later, there were 9,371 admissions for anorexia across all ages, and these figures have climbed to 9,969 in 2023/24. Bulimia also saw rising numbers, with admissions growing from 5,075 in 2022/23 to 5,212 in 2023/24.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Too many children and young people are waiting too long to access the mental health care they need.
“We will recruit 8,500 additional mental health workers, provide young people with access to a specialist mental health professional in every school and a Young Futures hub in every community. As part of our Plan for Change, we will get the NHS back on its feet, making it fit for the future.”