Rising numbers of children in mental health crisis ending up in A&E
A new analysis by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health reveals a 36% increase in children attending A&E for mental health crises in England since 2019. Doctors warn that emergency departments are becoming a default safety net due to a severe lack of community-based mental health support.
Why it matters
The data highlights a critical failure in pediatric mental health infrastructure, forcing vulnerable children into inappropriate emergency settings and straining hospital resources.
Image source, Getty Images By Nick Triggle Health correspondent Published 6 minutes ago There has been a sharp rise in children and young people attending A&E units in England in a mental health crisis, NHS doctors are warning.
The number of six to 17-year-olds turning up in significant distress for things like self-harm and eating disorders, or in emotional crisis, rose by 36% between 2019 and 2025, according to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health analysis.
Some faced waits of more than 12 hours once there. The college said A&Es were not the best place for them, but a lack of support in the community meant they often had nowhere else to turn.
The government said it was looking to improve services and would be setting out plans soon.
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