Why England is facing a child mental health crisis

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleMore than one million children in England are currently engaged with mental health services, a figure highlighting the "sheer scale of distress young people are facing today", according to the children’s commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza. Her annual report has revealed that the number of active referrals to children and young people’s mental health services has almost doubled since 2018-19, with a 9.5 per cent increase in the last year alone. Data obtained from NHS England indicates that anxiety is the primary reason for referrals, accounting for 16 per cent of all cases, particularly among children over 10. Referrals for suspected autism surged by 47 per cent, and other neurodevelopmental conditions increased by almost a quarter.Concerning waiting times persist, with a weighted average of 128 days; 16 per cent of children awaiting treatment had been waiting for over two years. In fullChild mental health crisis as one million seek help for anxiety and autism in EnglandThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

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