Children and young people in England are increasingly presenting to accident and emergency departments during mental health crises, according to analysis by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. The data revealed a 36% surge in attendances among six to 17-year-olds between 2019 and 2025, with children arriving in distress related to self-harm, eating disorders, and emotional trauma. The analysis documented 75,491 such attendances in 2025, compared to 55,525 in 2019, with particularly steep increases observed among very young children aged six to nine. The growth in mental health-related A&E visits significantly outpaces the overall 8% increase in emergency department attendances during the same period.
Waiting times present a substantial challenge, with more than 6,200 children—approximately 8% of those attending—experiencing waits exceeding 12 hours. Medical professionals emphasized that emergency departments were not designed to accommodate children in mental health crises for extended periods. Cases brought to A&E involved children referred by families, carers, and police, with some exhibiting aggressive or challenging behavior. Dr Sam Jones of the RCPCH noted that inadequate community-based mental health support services contributed to families having nowhere else to turn during crises.
Experts and advocates highlighted systemic gaps in the current approach. Mental health charity Mind described the situation as unacceptable and noted that current eligibility criteria for mental health services create barriers to earlier intervention. RCPCH leadership called for enhanced investment in children’s mental health infrastructure alongside improved crisis support availability. The Royal College of Emergency Medicine stressed that children should receive care in settings designed to address their specific needs rather than defaulting to emergency departments.
The government indicated ongoing efforts to address the issue, citing investments in school-based mental health teams and over 150 community mental health hubs. Officials stated plans to publish an updated mental health strategy later during the summer period. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman reaffirmed the principle that children should not require crisis-level intervention to access needed support services.
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