The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health) reported that children in England attended accident and emergency departments in rising numbers for mental health crises between 2019 and 2025, and new information through 2026 highlighted continuing waits and pressure. Last update: 3 September 2026. This unified update brings together previously published figures and later developments to present a single, coherent account of the trend, the waits seen in Emergency departments and responses from charities and officials.
Why the rise matters and who is involved
The trend matters because Emergency departments and families faced sustained strain as the increase reflected gaps in community care and crisis pathways that left many children waiting long periods in Emergency departments for specialist treatment, with consequences for clinical safety and family wellbeing. The analysis covered attendances for children aged six to 17 and named bodies involved in responses and calls for reform, including the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, charities such as Mind and Together for Short Lives and national health planners and integrated care boards responsible for commissioning services.
Scale of the rise and age breakdown (2019–2025)
The Royal College analysis showed a 36% increase in attendances for mental health concerns among children aged six to 17 between 2019 and 2025, with attendances rising from 55,525 in 2019 to 75,491 in 2025. The most marked increase occurred among the youngest cohort: attendances for children aged six to nine rose by 62%. The figures underlined expanding demand for crisis assessment and follow-up care for very young children as well as adolescents across England, and set the quantitative frame for subsequent reporting of waits and system responses during 2025 and into 2026.
Waiting times and conditions seen in A&E
Data indicated prolonged waits for specialist mental health care within A&E: more than 6,200 children waited over 12 hours for assessment or transfer in 2025, and some children experienced waits exceeding 72 hours before being moved to appropriate facilities. Presentations included severe emotional distress, self-harm and eating disorders. Dr. Sam Jones, RCPCH officer for mental health, said, “Emergency departments are a vital safety net, but they were never designed to be a place where children in mental health crisis wait for days at a time.” The figure of children waiting more than 12 hours evidenced operational pressure on hospital emergency services and highlighted the mismatch between demand and available specialist provision.
Voices from charities, families and service responses
Charities and families described A&E as a last resort and as an unsuitable setting for many children in crisis. Gemma Byrne of Mind said, “A&E can be a frightening environment for anyone in mental health crisis, let alone a child. Making them spend more than 12 hours there is simply unacceptable.” Parents reported blocked access to community teams and lengthy waits on referral lists; campaigners also connected parallel shortfalls in paediatric palliative and end-of-life care, noting that integrated commissioning gaps meant that not all areas offered at-home end-of-life services for children. Nick Carroll, chief executive of Together for Short Lives said, “families have every right to be upset as they continue to be overlooked.” These voices framed public concern as the stats above were discussed with decision-makers through September and into 2026.
Planned measures, diagnostic pressures and policy debate
Officials pointed to investments aimed at bolstering early support, including expansion of school-based mental health teams and development of more community access points. The rollout of over 150 new mental health hubs in community locations was cited as part of that approach, intended to provide alternatives to A&E and to enable same-day or rapid access to help. Experts cautioned that such measures required sustained funding and workforce capacity to reduce secondary pressure on Emergency departments.
Separate analysis raised the debate about diagnostic demand: an independent review found that waiting lists for ADHD assessments had grown markedly, from around 21,000 children waiting in April 2019 to approximately 270,000 by December 2025. Review authors noted that population surveys suggested the underlying prevalence of ADHD symptoms was much more stable, prompting questions about assessment capacity and how ordinary developmental variation is distinguished from clinically significant conditions. The Royal College and charities continued to call for clearer crisis pathways, same-day open access models and sustained workforce investment as part of the next mental health strategy.
Last update: 3 September 2026. The Royal College, charities and health commissioners remained engaged in discussions about targeted clinical pathways, community step-up and step-down services, and measures to prevent children from reaching crisis points that result in long A&E stays.
