Sharp Rise in Child Mental-Health A&E Visits Sparks Calls for Urgent Reform
Children and young people in England saw a 36% jump in emergency department visits for mental-health crises between 2019 and 2025, with long waits and limited community support.
An analysis by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, using Freedom of Information data from NHS England, found that emergency department attendances for mental-health emergencies among 6- to 17-year-olds climbed from 55,525 in 2019 to 75,491 in 2025 - a 36% rise that dwarfs the 8% overall increase in A&E use. The surge is most pronounced in children aged six to nine, and more than 6,200 of those patients endured waits exceeding 12 hours.
Doctors say hospitals lack the capacity and expertise to manage these crises, highlighting a shortage of community-based support. Experts such as Sam Jones and Mark Buchanan call for dedicated child-focused services and better training for staff across health, social care and education. Charities including Mind and Anna Freud urge faster implementation of the upcoming mental-health strategy, which the Department of Health and Social Care says will include new school teams and over 150 community hubs. Without swift action, officials warn the situation could worsen.
Why it matters
Growing emergency visits show children’s mental-health needs are outpacing current services, risking harm and strain on hospitals.
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