Call for Immediate Action to Address Long Waiting Times and Growing Demand

The Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, has warned that children’s mental health services are in crisis, with urgent calls for more immediate support for young people. Dame Rachel highlighted that waiting times for mental health care are “far too long” and that demand is significantly outpacing available resources.

The latest report from the Commissioner sheds light on the worsening situation, revealing a stark rise in the number of children in need of mental health support. Dame Rachel pointed to the challenging circumstances this generation faces, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the escalating cost-of-living crisis, and the damaging effects of social media, cyberbullying, and online exploitation.

She remarked, “We cannot ignore the scale of the crisis. Children who need mental health support should receive it quickly and locally, without being left on waiting lists for months or even years.” The report highlights that nearly one million children were referred to Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services (CYPMHS) in 2022/23, with almost 270,000 still waiting for treatment by the year’s end. Furthermore, nearly 40% of referrals were closed before the children could access support.

Dame Rachel emphasised that the current delays are particularly harsh for young children, boys, and white children, who tend to experience longer wait times for help. Shockingly, around 32,200 children waited over two years for a follow-up contact with services.

Commenting on the situation, Dame Rachel stated, “This generation of children has faced challenges like no other before them. Given the stressful environment they live in, it’s no surprise that mental health struggles are on the rise.” She also stressed that the emotional and mental well-being of children should be given priority, both online and offline, to ensure they feel safe, supported, and able to access care when needed.

Olly Parker, head of external affairs at Young Minds, echoed these concerns, describing the current situation as a “mental health emergency.” He highlighted that young people are often turned away from services or forced to endure long waiting times, exacerbating their distress.

Meanwhile, the Children’s Charities Coalition, including organisations such as Barnardo’s, NSPCC, and Action for Children, urged the government to prioritise mental health support in schools and create a national strategy to prevent children from reaching crisis points.

An NHS England spokesperson responded by acknowledging the growing demand and the challenges in meeting it. However, they assured that the health service is working to increase the availability of mental health services for young people, with plans in place to ensure that by spring 2025, over half of pupils will have access to NHS mental health support teams.