In the UK, the number of children attending emergency mental health services has increased by 10% in a year, with many more in crisis due to long waiting lists for regular NHS treatment.
Analysis of official data by mental health charity Young Minds shows that between April and October 2024 there were 30,000 urgent, very urgent or urgent referrals to child and young person mental health service crisis teams. It turned out that there were 4,793 cases. This compares to 31,749 cases during the same six-month period in 2023.
Many children who require emergency treatment, some of whom are suicidal or seriously ill due to eating disorders, spend months on NHS waiting lists, in the worst cases. It has remained for several years.
Young Minds chief executive Laura Bunt said the figures were worrying and showed thousands of children needed early and urgent help to prevent them becoming seriously unwell. He said that
“Early support could help prevent many young people from deteriorating, but instead their mental health worsens, leading to a crisis and, in some cases, putting young people’s lives at risk,” she said. said. “This is a shocking betrayal of young people and their mental health.”
He said tweaking the system was no longer enough to deal with the crisis. “We need major reforms that address the root causes of why so many young people are suffering, and make it easier for young people to get help when they need it for their mental health. To do so, the government must urgently deliver on its promise to roll out early support hubs in all communities.”
Data analysis shows there were 4,424 new very urgent referrals to mental health crisis care teams from April to October 2024, an increase of 13% from 3,912 in the same period last year.
There were 24,886 new emergency referrals to crisis care teams between April and October, an increase of 13% from 22,045 in the same period last year. The number of new emergency referrals decreased by 5% to 5,483.
Taken together, these figures show a 10% increase in urgent, super-urgent and critical care referrals in 2024, Young Minds said.
Dr Elaine Lockhart, director of children and young people at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said the coronavirus pandemic, the cost of living crisis and a range of other factors had had a significant impact on children’s mental health in recent years. He said he is giving.
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“This has contributed in part to a sharp rise in the number of young people experiencing mental health problems,” she says. “Mental health services help thousands of young people recover from mental illness each year, but are struggling to cope with soaring demand due to staff shortages and a lack of resources. This has led to long waiting lists. This has led to an increase in young people falling into crisis situations before they receive the care they need.”
Separate data analyzed by the PA Media news agency showed hospital admissions for the eating disorders anorexia and bulimia increased by 5% in a year.
The Department of Health and Social Care has acknowledged that too many children and young people are waiting too long to receive the mental health care they need. A spokesperson said: “We will recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers to ensure young people have access to mental health professionals in every school and provide future hubs for young people in every community. ” he said.
