Demand for children’s mental health services is rising – and rising faster than in previous years – the Children’s Commissioner has warned, as for the first time more than a million children in England had active referrals to mental health services in England last year – leaving increasing numbers of children waiting for months or years for support.
In her fifth annual report on children’s mental health services, 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 (CYPMHS) – almost double the number recorded in 2018-19, and almost 10 per cent rise on the previous year.
Today’s report reveals demand for services rose most sharply among children referred for suspected autism, neurodevelopmental conditions and anxiety, with anxiety remaining the most common referral reason to CYPMHS – accounting for 16 per cent of overall referrals.
Despite these sharp rises in referrals, children with suspected autism and neurodevelopmental conditions were among the most likely to still be waiting for any treatment by March 2025. Fewer than one in five children with suspected autism or neurodevelopmental conditions went onto to receive treatment in 2024-25.
While more children are now accessing treatment than in the previous year, today’s report highlights a growing backlog of referrals within CYPMHS, with 35 per cent of children still waiting for treatment by the end of March 2025 – an increase from 33 per cent of children who were still waiting in 2023-24 and 29 per cent in 2022-23.
More children are now waiting in the system with proportionally fewer children having their referral closed, but more left waiting and waiting longer for support in 2024-25. More than 60,000 children were waiting more than two years for support, an increase from over 44,000 children the previous year.
Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said:
“There is no disguising the fact the figures in this report are stark. Roughly one in 10 children have an active referral to mental health services in England which clearly demonstrates the sheer scale of distress young people are facing today. These are not just numbers, but children whose lives have been put on hold for months and, in some cases, years waiting for support they urgently need.
“While there have been some encouraging signs, with more children receiving support last year, it is hard to ignore the colossal challenge facing mental health services, as demand outpaces system capacity and funding.
“The way we look to support young people’s mental health must change – we cannot address mental health alone in isolation, improving children’s wellbeing requires action across government. At the same time, there must be shift in how we approach children’s mental health with greater focus on joined up services across health, education and social care to ensure children are getting the help they need in schools and the community, only then will we stop asking what is wrong, but rather ‘how can we help?’.
“With the upcoming 10 Year Mental Health Strategy and reforms to the SEND system, we have a once in a generation opportunity to transform children’s mental health and improve outcomes for children. In order for these to have the most impact they must be shaped and informed by children’s own experiences and must be done collaboratively – not working in isolation – so that services offer earlier support, shorter waits and reflect what young people say they need to thrive.”
