Children as young as six in A&E mental
Paediatricians report a 36% rise in children attending A&E for mental health crises in England since 2019. Over 6,200 waited over 12 hours last year.
The number of children and young people attending A&E in England for a mental health crisis has risen sharply. According to an analysis by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, attendances for those aged six to 17 rose by 36% between 2019 and 2025.
Some children were as young as six. The cases involved significant distress from issues like self-harm, eating disorders, or emotional crisis. The analysis is based on figures obtained from NHS England under the Freedom of Information Act.
A&E as a default destination
Doctors warn that emergency departments are not the best place for these children. A lack of community support means families often have nowhere else to turn. Dr. Sam Jones, the RCPCH officer for mental health, called it a national crisis.
Dr. Jones stated that behind every one of these figures is a child or young person in distress and a family who didn't know where else to turn. She said emergency departments were never designed for children in mental health crisis to wait for days.
Dr. Mark Buchanan of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine said children end up in A&E by default. He argued they deserve care in settings designed for their needs.
The scale of the problem
The data shows a total of 75,491 A&E attendances for mental health concerns by children and young people in 2025. This is up from 55,525 in 2019. Some of the biggest increases were seen in very young children aged six to nine.
These rises far outstrip the overall 8% increase in total A&E attendances over the same period. Cases included children brought in by families, carers, and police. Some in emotional crisis exhibited aggressive or challenging behaviour.
| Year | A&E Attendances (Ages 6-17) |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 55,525 |
| 2025 | 75,491 |
Long waits and a frightening environment
In total, more than 6,200 children waited over 12 hours in A&E in 2025. This represents around 8% of all such attendances.
Gemma Byrne of the mental health charity Mind said A&E can be frightening for anyone in crisis, let alone a child. She stated that making them spend more than 12 hours there is simply unacceptable. Byrne criticised a system where support often only comes when young people are deemed 'unwell enough'.
She highlighted the expansion of young future hubs as a crucial step. These hubs bring together support covering mental health, employment, sports, and volunteering.
Calls for systemic change
Experts are calling for urgent intervention and greater investment in children's mental health services. Dr. Jones said staff across health, social care, and education need better training to help struggling children.
Claire Evans of the children's mental health charity Anna Freud said the figures are deeply concerning. She argued the government's forthcoming mental health strategy must place children at its heart and accelerate investment in community-based support.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said improvements are being made. These include investment in school mental health teams and over 150 new mental health hubs in community locations like banks and libraries. The government plans to publish a new mental health strategy later this summer.
The spokesman added that no child should have to reach crisis point before getting the support they need.
