Children as young as six are increasingly presenting at emergency departments with mental health crises, according to recent data from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH). The data reveals a significant rise in the number of young children seeking emergency mental health support, with figures showing 6,269 children aged six to nine attended emergency departments last year for mental health issues—a 62 percent increase since 2019.
Overall, 75,491 children under 18 visited emergency departments with mental health concerns in the past year, marking a 36 percent rise compared to 2019. The greatest increase has been observed among primary school-aged children. The issues reported include conditions such as self-harm, anxiety, and eating disorders.
The RCPCH attributes these rising numbers in part to a shortage of hospital beds and limited space on paediatric wards. These capacity challenges have contributed to a threefold increase in the number of children waiting more than 12 hours in emergency settings for appropriate mental health care. Additionally, more than 300 children spent at least three days in emergency departments last year. Medical staff have raised concerns about the suitability of emergency departments for children facing mental health crises, highlighting that the noisy and brightly lit environment can be distressing for young patients.
In response to the findings, the RCPCH has urged the government to prioritise prevention and enhance early access to mental health services in its forthcoming mental health strategy. Sam Jones, the RCPCH officer for mental health, emphasised that while emergency departments serve as a critical safety net, they are not designed to accommodate children in crisis for extended periods.
The Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged these challenges and indicated that its upcoming mental health strategy, expected later this year, will outline long-term plans aimed at earlier intervention and reducing the number of young people requiring emergency mental health care.