Children as young as six in England are increasingly attending emergency departments with mental health crises, revealing a strained system and urgent need for improved early support and crisis pathways, according to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.
Children as young as six are now appearing in emergency departments in England with mental health crises, according to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, which says the figures expose a system failing to meet demand far earlier than it should.
The college said analysis of NHS England data obtained through a freedom of information request shows 75,491 children and young people aged six to 17 attended emergency departments with a recorded mental health concern in 2025, up from 55,525 in 2019. That represents a rise of 36% over the period, with the steepest increase among six to nine-year-olds, where attendances climbed 62%.
The pressure is not limited to arrivals at hospital doors. The college said the number of children and young people spending more than 12 hours in A&E rose from 1,964 in 2019 to 6,235 in 2025, an increase of 217%. Those waiting more than 72 hours rose from 55 to 338, a jump of 514%. The college said emergency departments are being used as a last resort when proper mental health pathways are missing, leaving children in environments that are not designed for acute psychiatric care.
RCPCH said the pattern points to strain across children’s mental health, community services and social care, and is calling on the government to make children a priority in the upcoming Mental Health Strategy. It wants greater emphasis on prevention, faster access to early support, stronger community provision and better crisis pathways so fewer children reach emergency care in the first place.
Dr Sam Jones, the college’s officer for mental health, said the numbers represented children in distress and families who had nowhere else to turn. Dr Ronny Cheung, the college’s officer for health services, said the trend should be a wake-up call and warned that failing to act early could store up wider problems, including more young people leaving education, work and training. The Royal College of Nursing said the rise was a sign of a failing system, while Mind called for same-day open access mental health support and a wider roll-out of Young Futures Hubs.
Earlier RCPCH analysis also found that the share of children and young people assessed as having a probable mental health disorder has risen steadily over the past decade, while the proportion able to access support through school has fallen. The college has previously warned of a sharp increase in mental health-related hospital admissions among children, adding to concerns that more young people are being pushed into crisis before they receive help.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
