In her report, Dame Rachel de Souza sets out how the growing demand for services is placing growing pressure on support for children. New data for 2024-25 shows that 1,048,965 children had an active referral to Children and Young People's Mental Health Services – almost double the number recorded in 2018-19, and almost 10 per cent rise on the previous year.
In response to the report, Professor Steve Turner, RCPCH President said:
Paediatricians have continually stated that children's mental health issues are becoming more common, severe and complex, with even younger children being affected and rates of self-harm and eating disorders rising dramatically. It is shocking that over 60,000 children are waiting over two years to receive treatment; inevitably by the time children reach services, their needs are often worse than they were initially. I reiterate our call made with RCN for ministers and NHS bosses to speed up the rollout of a planned network of mental health emergency units so that under-18s can seek help away from A&E.
With demand soaring, these results are another sobering reminder of the impact on children from a system that is struggling to cope. We welcome the call for a joined-up, cross-government approach to address this unmet need for mental health support for our children and also to prevent it from getting worse. To succeed, we must prioritise early years care, strengthen community based support, and ensure children get need-based help at the right time. At least 50% of adult mental health problems begin in childhood and without urgent action from government, this surge in mental health issues will have catastrophic implications for individuals and wider society.