Mental Health Crisis Among Children in England Deepens
The number of children in the UK requiring support for severe mental health crises is rapidly increasing, according to recent reports. Data from the National Health Service (NHS) for 2024 shows a 10% rise in emergency and urgent referrals for those under 18 years old. Between April and October, a total of 34,793 referrals were made to crisis support teams.
Among these, 4,424 were classified as “very urgent,” marking a 13% increase compared to the previous year. “Urgent” referrals also rose by the same percentage, while “routine” referrals saw a 5% decline. Experts warn that a lack of early intervention is pushing children into mental health crises.
The Labour Party has pledged to provide every school with a mental health professional, criticizing the slow progress of previous government initiatives. Education leaders stress that the government must prioritize this issue to ensure students receive timely support.
Experts advocate for early intervention to prevent children from entering more severe crises, highlighting that this approach would reduce long-term costs for both the education and healthcare systems. Implementing a comprehensive plan to support youth mental health is seen as a critical step in addressing this growing crisis.
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