Archive · 2 Sep 2026
UK Children Face Growing Mental Health Crisis in A&E
More children are going to hospital because they are having serious mental health problems.
This includes children as young as six.
Last year, thousands of children visited emergency departments for help.
The number of visits has increased a lot since 2019.
Some children waited for many hours or even several days.
Nurses and mental health groups say busy, bright hospitals can make children feel worse.
Families say they often cannot find help anywhere else.
The government says it is adding support in schools and opening more mental health facilities.
A&E visits by six- to nine-year-olds for mental health problems rose 62% since 2019 to 6,269 last year.
A total of 75,491 under-18s attended emergency departments for mental health concerns last year, up 36% since 2019.
More than 300 children waited at least three days in A&E, while waits exceeding 12 hours tripled.
Paediatricians, nurses and Mind said emergency departments are unsuitable and potentially worsening environments for children in distress.
The Department of Health and Social Care cited expanded school support, more than 150 new facilities and a forthcoming mental health strategy.
- Who
- Children and young people, their families, healthcare professionals, mental health organisations and the Department of Health and Social Care.
- What
- Emergency-department attendance for children experiencing mental health concerns has increased, with some facing very long waits.
- When
- Last year, with figures compared with 2019; a new mental health strategy is due later this year.
- Where
- Accident and emergency departments in the UK.
- Why
- Families may have nowhere else to turn because specialist support is unavailable or involves long waiting lists.
Critics, clinicians and families
Government response
Suitability of A&E
Critics, clinicians and families
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Royal College of Nursing and Mind said emergency departments are frightening or unsuitable for children in mental health distress and that long waits can worsen their condition.
Government response
The Department of Health and Social Care said no child should have to reach crisis point before receiving support.
Access to specialist help
Critics, clinicians and families
Clinicians and families said children are reaching crisis point because other services are unavailable or involve long waiting lists, leaving families with nowhere else to turn.
Government response
The government said it is making mental health support easier to access in schools and colleges and is opening more than 150 new mental health facilities.
Urgency of action
Critics, clinicians and families
RCPCH representatives described the situation as a national crisis and called for urgent intervention from government and NHS leaders.
Government response
The Department of Health and Social Care said a new mental health strategy is due to be published later this year.
- Six- to nine-year-old attendances
- 6,269 children attended A&E for mental health problems last year.
- Increase among six- to nine-year-olds
- Attendances rose 62 per cent compared with 2019.
- Under-18 attendances
- 75,491 children attended emergency departments with a mental health concern last year.
- Overall increase
- Under-18 attendances rose 36 per cent since 2019.
- Longest waits
- More than 300 children waited at least three days in A&E.
- Waits over 12 hours
- The number of children waiting more than 12 hours increased threefold.
- Government measures
- The government said it is expanding access to support in schools and colleges and opening more than 150 mental health facilities.