Around a quarter of a million children and young adults are receiving help from NHS mental health services for problems such as depression, anxiety and eating disorders, new figures have revealed.
The numbers represent a growing crisis in young people’s health and mental wellbeing, the accompanying report says, adding that more than 235,000 patients aged 18 and under are seeking specialist care.
Sarah Brennan, the chief executive of the mental health charity, Young Minds, said: “It’s staggering that so many children and young people are in need of specialist mental health care. These figures should act as a wake-up call.”
Among the young people affected, 11,849 were boys and girls aged five and under, and 53,659 aged six to 10. More than 100,000 patients were aged 11 to 15, and 69,505 were aged 16 to 18.
It also came as a surprise to some experts, when the figures revealed that the total number comprised of more boys (130,395) than girls (104,522).
During his time in Government, Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, has pledged £1.4 billion to improve support for “troubled children” and ensure the expansion of services so that the increasing numbers seeking help could get access.
He said: “Tackling the problems of mental ill health in children and young people is a priority for this government.”
Luciana Berger, a former shadow cabinet minister for mental health and now president of the Labour campaign for mental health, added: “These new figures shine a spotlight on the extent of the demand for mental health treatment, particularly when we know there are thousands of children who are being turned away because thresholds to access services are out of reach for too many.”