Child mental health crisis sees 400,000 under-18s need NHS treatment each month

A record number of children and young people in the UK are seeking help with their mental health problems after two years of Covid restrictions.

The latest NHS data show “open references”, with the number of young people under 18 seeking or waiting to start mental health treatment on the NHS at 420,314 in February.

This is a 54% increase in the number of young people seeking help compared to the same period in 2020 before the pandemic.

Experts have warned that Covid is exacerbating mental health problems in children, such as anxiety, depression and self-harm, and rising demand for help could undermine NHS services.

Blockades have previously been accused of undermining the mental health of British youth by disrupting routine, reducing social contact with friends, and failing to escape an unfavorable home environment and screen time.

In addition, there are concerns that many more children with problems will not be included in the statistics because their psychological problems have not yet reached the level where they can be referred to specialist help.

Olly Parker, director of external affairs for the mental health association Young Minds, said: The Guardian said the record numbers represented an “unprecedented crisis” in children’s mental health.

“The record number of children and young people receiving NHS care tells us that the youth mental health crisis is a wave that is currently breaking through,” he said.

A total of 420,314 NHS mental health deficit referrals for under-18s in February is the highest since the record began in 2016.

The figure rose 147,853 from pre-pandemic data to 80,096 last year alone.

Mr Parker added that while it is fine for many children with mental health problems to seek help for their condition, the request may be untenable as many young people may still suffer in silence.

“The increase in the number of young people seeking help in the NHS is unstoppable and unsustainable.”

In the past two years, young people have experienced isolation, disruption to their education and reduced access to support, including counselors and family doctors.

“All of this has had a huge impact on their mental health, but these numbers are just the tip of the iceberg and will continue to grow.”

There are also concerns that a number of British youth with mental health problems are not getting the help they need because they do not meet the threshold for help from the NHS.

A survey of more than 1,000 primary care physicians conducted last month by a benevolent tribe4 revealed that some children, even those who harmed themselves, were not considered ill enough to be treated.

In one case, an emergency team in Wales would not immediately assess the mental health of a child who was actively suicidal who was detained from jumping from a building that day, unless the GP provided a written referral.

Nihara Krause, clinical psychologist and founder of stem4, said children are not getting the help they need.

“Teachers and primary care physicians say children with mental health problems are rejected in record numbers because their problems do not meet high treatment thresholds or are on long waiting lists,” she says.

The shocking state of the NHS child and adolescent mental health services (CAMS) has long been criticized as so many children wait too long to get help.

NHS statistics in February revealed that 37% of those on the waiting list in 2020/21 did not start treatment until the end of the fiscal year.

There is also a zip code lottery for access to care, where in some parts of the country children had to wait an average of just six days, while others had to wait 81 days.

NHS England National Director Claire Murdoch said the pandemic was “inevitably” putting pressure on the nation’s mental health.

“As these numbers show, demand continues to grow rapidly, with the third child treated in February this year, more than in February 2020,” he said.

He added that the NHS is responding to this growing demand by expanding mental health teams in 4,700 schools and colleges and establishing 24/7 mental health telephone support services for all ages, currently receiving 20,000 calls per month.