Young people in crisis waiting ‘far too long’ for mental health help, says tsar
The Children’s Commissioner for England has warned of a children’s mental health crisis after the young spent the pandemic “isolated and indoors”.
Dame Rachel de Souza said children are waiting “far too long” to access mental health support.
It comes after her research found that more than 270,000 children and young people referred to children’s mental health services in 2022-23 were still waiting for support at the end of that period.
Figures sourced from NHS England using the commissioner’s legislative powers reveal 949,200 children and young people were referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in 2022-23, the equivalent of eight per cent of the 11.9 million children in England and more than double the number of referrals recorded prior to the pandemic.
Of the referrals made last year, 28 per cent were still waiting for support, while 39 per cent had their referral closed before accessing support.
Dame Rachel said there is “a growing group of children who are struggling with their mental health” since lockdown.
“This generation of children has experienced uniquely uncertain and challenging times,” she said.
“Some have spent some of their most formative years isolated and indoors, fearful they or their loved ones may catch a deadly virus.
“They have felt the squeeze of a cost-of-living crisis, and are keenly aware of the pressure their parents are under. They are constantly bombarded by negative news, of wars and climate catastrophe.
Online stress
“An increasing number are exposed to the harmful impact of social media, cyber bullying, and online exploitation.”
However, she warned that children are not receiving adequate support.
She said: “Against this backdrop, it is not surprising that we continue to see the number of children experiencing poor mental health at persistently high levels.”
An NHS England spokesman said: “Latest figures show the NHS is treating more young people than ever before with 48 per cent more children and young people accessing support since 2019-20, and the health service is expanding this provision as quickly as possible within the current five-year funding arrangements to meet this rising demand.
“But we know there is more to do which is why plans are also in place to ensure more than one in two pupils in schools and colleges have access to an NHS mental health support team by spring 2025 – significantly ahead of the original target.”
