Home / Health / Kids' mental health crisis: Waits double, funding cut
Kids' mental health crisis: Waits double, funding cut
16 Oct
Summary
- Nearly 176,000 children have waited over two years for care.
- Funding for youth mental health services has been de-prioritized.
- Children represent 30% of demand but receive only 8% of funding.
As of July 2026, a staggering 584,193 children are awaiting NHS mental health services, marking a significant increase from previous years. Among these, 175,846 have endured waits exceeding two years, a substantial rise from April 2026 figures. This situation is exacerbated by the recent decision to end ring-fenced funding for children and young people's mental health services.
Experts warn that this move undermines government ambitions to reduce waiting times. Children and young people account for approximately 30% of demand for mental health and neurodevelopmental services, yet they receive only 8% of the total mental health spending. This disparity risks crucial early intervention windows being missed.
Reports indicate a 36% rise in children attending A&E for mental health crises between 2019 and 2025. Furthermore, some children have faced excessively long waits in emergency departments following mental health emergencies, with one case involving a young person waiting six weeks.
