The number of children referred to emergency mental health services in England has risen dramatically, with recent figures showing a 10% increase in urgent cases over the past year. This sharp rise has been attributed to long NHS waiting lists for routine mental health care, which experts say are pushing vulnerable children into crisis.
Between April and October 2024, 34,793 children were referred to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) crisis teams, compared to 31,749 during the same period in 2023. The data, analyzed by the mental health charity YoungMinds, highlights a troubling trend in the growing demand for emergency care for young people facing mental health challenges.
Many of these children are grappling with severe conditions, including suicidal ideation and eating disorders. Despite the urgency of their cases, many have been languishing on NHS waiting lists for months or even years, further worsening their mental health.
The data reveals that very urgent referrals to crisis care teams reached 4,424 between April and October 2024, a 13% increase from the 3,912 reported during the same period in 2023. Urgent referrals also saw a significant rise, reaching 24,886, up 13% from 22,045 in the previous year. Emergency referrals, however, showed a slight decrease of 5%, with 5,483 children referred compared to 5,772 in 2023.
While the decline in emergency referrals is notable, the increase in urgent and very urgent cases has placed immense pressure on already overwhelmed crisis care teams.
YoungMinds has raised alarm over the rising demand, calling for increased investment in NHS mental health services to address the growing crisis. The charity has emphasized the need for more resources to support children and young people in urgent need of care.
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