Sharp rise in children's A&E mental health visits, especially among under-9s
New data shows a 36% increase in children aged 6-17 attending A&E with mental health concerns, with the fastest rise among younger children and long waits for care.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
New data from the NHS, analysed by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, shows a sharp rise in the number of children going to A&E with mental health problems. Around 75,000 children aged 6 to 17 attended emergency departments in England with a recorded mental health concern last year, up from 55,000 in 2019, a 36% increase. The fastest rise was among the youngest children. For under-9s, attendances jumped from 3,870 in 2019 to more than 6,000 last year.
The college said the figures showed more children than ever were reaching crisis point. Children as young as six are presenting with self-harm, eating disorders, and suicidal thoughts. Dr Sam Jones, an officer for mental health at the college, said the rise was seen across all age groups but was most pronounced in the youngest. She warned that if no action is taken, these children will carry the impact into adulthood.
The analysis also found a threefold increase in long waits. More than 300 children who attended A&E with a mental health concern last year waited more than 72 hours for appropriate care, up from 55 in 2019. Dr Jones said families often arrive "as a last resort" because they have nowhere else to go, and that children can become stuck in hospital when there is no safe place to discharge them to.
The government pointed to a review into ADHD, autism, and mental health services, which is due to be published imminently. In a statement, the Department of Health and Social Care said it was making it easier to access mental health support in schools and colleges, and opening more than 150 new mental health facilities, including community centres offering same-day walk-in support. A mental health strategy is also expected later this year.
Dr Jones said a joined-up approach across children's health and welfare was needed urgently, arguing that the current system often only offers signposting rather than real help. She said: "Childhood is short and by the time if we're talking 29 30 a lot of our children will have lost several years of their childhood." The college is calling for earlier intervention and better community-based support.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 4 | ITV | Sky News |
|---|---|---|---|
| Children's A&E mental health visits rose from 55,000 in 2019 to 75,000 in 2025, a 36% increase. | |||
| Children can become stuck in hospital because there is nowhere safe to discharge them to, or carers don't feel they can keep them safe. | · | · | |
| More than 300 children waited over 72 hours for mental health care in A&E last year, up from 55 in 2019. | · | · | |
| The fastest rise in A&E mental health attendance was among under-9s, rising from 3,870 in 2019 to more than 6,000 last year. | · | · | |
| The government is opening more than 150 new mental health facilities and will publish a mental health strategy later this year. | · | · | |
| The Royal College described the rise as unacceptable, with problems including self-harm and eating disorders. | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Sky News provided a detailed breakdown of the figures, with a correspondent explaining the rise, the long waits, and the government response. It included an interview with Dr Samantha Jones and emphasised the seriousness of the issue as a "wake-up call" for the government.
- “It just comes back to demonstrating that whatever the cause is, it's here, it's real and if we don't intervene now these young people have got their childhood affected”
- “So we know that this is storing up problems for the future”
Channel 4 covered the story as a brief summary, highlighting the "unacceptable rise" and mentioning the specific problems of self-harm and eating disorders, and the age of six. No further analysis or expert comment was included.
- “There's been a sharp increase in the number of children seeking help at A&E departments in England because of mental health problems.”
- “The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said there was an unacceptable rise in the number of young people turning up in emergency departments with problems like self-harm and eating disorders, some as young as six.”
ITV1 gave the story substantial coverage with an extended interview with Dr Sam Jones, exploring causes, the impact on families, and the need for a joined-up approach. It highlighted the fastest rise among under-9s and the problem of children stuck in hospital.
- “Our study went to look at the actual numbers of attendances and we've seen a 32% increase across all ages but obviously, as your report says, we've seen it the biggest increase in the youngest age groups.”
- “Families come through our door because they are an absolute breaking point and as a last resort and they feel there's nowhere else to come.”
- “we need a joined up approach across children's health and welfare.”
Broadcast Timeline
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