THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

Children's mental health crisis deepens: severe shortage of ... Analysis from the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) finds that the number of children and young people accessing treatment for mental health conditions in England has risen by 27% (from 628,454 to 798,479) in just three years from September 2021 to September 2024.1 Over the same period, Child and Adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) have struggled to recruit enough consultant psychiatrists across England.2The latest RCPsych Workforce census found that CAMHS has faced the highest consultant vacancy rate of any psychiatric specialism. The census found that of 842 available child and adolescent consultant psychiatrist posts in England, one in five (19.2% or 162 posts) were vacant. Combined with posts being covered by locums, the total vacancy rate is now more than one in three (36.8% or 310 posts).3 Too many children experience a deterioration in their mental health while on waiting lists. At the end of September 2024 there were 352,682 children and young people under 18 waiting for a first contact with NHS-funded mental health services, with 1 in 10 of those children and young people waiting for more than…

Children and young people’s mental health services in England The mental health of children and young people in England is worsening, and record numbers of children are presenting with mental health difficulties. Mental health support services both in the NHS and schools are not sufficiently resourced to meet the growing demand, and children and young people are struggling to get the help they need. Since January 2020, the number of children and young people in contact with secondary NHS mental health services at the end of each month has more than doubled , and in 2024-25, there were over 1 million people under the age of 18 in contact with services . This sharp rise in need has not been matched by investment or capacity in mental health services, leaving too many children falling through the gaps in an overstretched system. The importance of intervening early in someone’s life to prevent or manage mental illness cannot be overstated. Over half of all mental health disorders start before the age of 14, with 75 per cent starting by 24 years of age. Prevention and early intervention are therefore key. Through a series of interviews with frontline healthcare and education staff, the…

More than one million children waiting or receiving mental health ... More than one million children waiting or receiving mental health treatment There is 'no doubt that we are facing a crisis in young people's mental health,' the children's commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza has said in a revealing report Comments News Benjamin Lynch News Reporter and Aine Fox Press Association Social Affairs Correspondent 23:01, 28 Jun 2026 View 4 Images Some children have waited 'years' for support they 'urgently need' (file photo) (Image: Getty Images) More than a million children – roughly one in 10 – across England were referred to, waiting for or receiving treatment from mental health services , according to data analysis described as revealing the "sheer scale of distress young people are facing today". ‌ Children's Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said she is "in no doubt that we are facing a crisis in young people's mental health ". ‌ While she acknowledged there appeared to be "no straightforward answers" as to what has been fuelling the increase, data obtained by her office indicated the primary reason for referrals was anxiety, with demand reportedly "growing especially" for those ref…

Children’s mental health crisis risks fuelling ‘lost generation’ Read the report here Nearly one in five primary school children are now experiencing a probable mental health disorder – more than double the rate in 2011 – according to analysis published today by Health Equity North on behalf of the Child of the North All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG). Children and young people growing up in disadvantaged communities, particularly across parts of the North of England, are more likely to experience cumulative adversity, poorer wellbeing, and reduced access to support. The report, ‘Building a Preventative Mental Health System for Children and Young People’ , shows that demand for support is rapidly outpacing capacity, leaving hundreds of thousands of children without help. Researchers are calling for coordinated action across multiple sectors to improve child and adolescent mental health, rather than relying on healthcare services alone. They say that health policy must place greater emphasis on prevention relationships, belonging, and the social conditions shaping wellbeing. The findings revealed stark regional inequalities, including: Mental health difficulties are consistently …

England facing children’s mental health ‘crisis’ as referrals hit 1m <p>Commissioner calls for overhaul of state support after reporting 10% rise in young patient referrals last year</p><p>More than 1 million children were referred to mental health services across England last year, with referrals up 10% from the year previous, according to a report by the children’s commissioner, Rachel de Souza. She said the country faced a “crisis” in young people’s mental health.</p><p>The number of patients who had an active referral to children and young people’s mental health services across England surpassed 1 million for the first time in 2024-25. This was almost double the number recorded in 2018-19, and an almost 10% rise on the previous year.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/jun/29/england-children-mental-health-crisis-million-referrals">Continue reading...</a>

Children's mental health services 2023-24 As Children’s Commissioner, it is my job to make sure we never lose sight of the biggest challenges affecting children – mental health is one of the most significant. Each year, I publish this report to shine a spotlight on the state of children’s mental health services in England. This is the fourth report of its kind. I will continue to request NHS data on waiting times, investment in children’s mental health services and ask the tough questions until there is a comprehensive plan to ensure that every child gets the support and help they need to thrive at the earliest opportunity. There have been some welcome improvements in investment and access to services, but too often it remains a case of too little and too late, leaving children waiting far too long for help. Black children and ethnic minority children are less likely overall to be accessing mental health services, and when they do come to the attention of services, they are often in crisis – well past the point of prevention, only treatment. We are talking about children who are in acute distress, and are at serious risk of harm, and even death. I remain deeply concerned about…

Crisis in children and young people's mental healthcare We support the Children’s Commissioner’s recommendation for counselling in schools, more early support hubs and expanded mental health support teams to help children who don’t reach the threshold to access Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). This follows today’s shocking report revealing the unacceptable number of children and young people (270,300) in England waiting for mental health support, following referral to CAMHS. The statistics, sourced from NHS England, reveal that in 2022-23, nearly one million children and young people (949,200) were referred to CAMHS. This equates to 8% of the 11.9 million children in England. Although almost 305,000 started treatment, some 270,300 were still waiting by the end of the year. And a total of 372,800 (39%) had their referrals closed before accessing CYPMHS. Waiting times vary across England The report also revealed waiting times for mental health support continue to vary across the country and that nearly 40,000 children experienced a wait of more than two years. Martin Bell, our Head of Policy and Public Affairs, said “Today’s report is shocking and underlines the …