Children in Crisis: Why More Young People Are Ending Up in Emergency Rooms

A growing number of children and young people in England are arriving at Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments during mental health crises. According to an analysis by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, the situation has become increasingly urgent. The data, based on figures from NHS England, shows that the number of children aged six to 17 attending emergency units for mental health concerns rose by 36% between 2019 and 2025. In 2025 alone, there were over 75,000 such visits.

Experts are particularly concerned about the youngest patients. The analysis found that some of the largest increases in hospital visits were among children aged six to nine. These children often arrive in significant distress, sometimes dealing with self-harm, eating disorders, or extreme emotional instability. In some cases, the behavior of these children can become aggressive or difficult to manage, leading families, carers, or even police to bring them to the hospital for safety.

For many families, the emergency room is the only option left. Nicholas, a father whose 10-year-old son has autism and struggles with his mental health, described the system as broken. He explained that his son has faced dangerous situations, such as attacking others or trying to jump out of windows. However, when he seeks help, he finds that local doctors are unable to provide the necessary support. He noted that they are stuck on long waiting lists for specialized children's mental health services, leaving them with nowhere to turn when a crisis happens.

Once at the hospital, the experience is often far from helpful. The report revealed that more than 6,200 children had to wait over 12 hours in A&E departments. Dr. Sam Jones, an officer for mental health at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, stated that emergency departments serve as a vital safety net, but they were never designed to be places where children wait for days. She warned that the environment can be frightening and that the current situation is a national crisis that will only get worse without immediate action.

Gemma Byrne, from the mental health charity Mind, agreed that keeping children in A&E for such long periods is unacceptable. She pointed out that the current system often only provides support when a young person is considered 'unwell enough' to qualify for help, which she argues is not working. Byrne suggested that expanding 'young future hubs'—centers that provide a mix of mental health, sports, and employment support—could be a key step in preventing these crises before they require emergency care.

The problems extend beyond emergency services. According to a letter from the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) published in The Guardian, many children and adults with conditions like autism or ADHD are facing long waits for diagnosis and treatment. Helen Macdonald, a senior clinical adviser at the BABCP, noted that receiving a diagnosis without access to follow-up care is a 'hollow outcome.' She emphasized that the system is currently too complex, and even when people are diagnosed, there are often not enough trained staff to provide the necessary therapy.

The government has acknowledged the need for change. Officials stated they are working to improve services and plan to publish a new mental health strategy later this summer. In the meantime, medical professionals are calling for better training across health, social care, and education agencies to ensure that children can get the right help at the right time. They argue that without urgent investment and a change in how services are delivered, families will continue to be left without a safe place to turn when their children are in distress.