Mind responds to Children's Commissioner report that more than one million children referred to mental health services
Minesh Patel, Associate Director for Evidence, Advocacy and Performance, said:
“The scale of demand and the unmet need set out in this report is deeply concerning. With more than a million children now referred to mental health services, but many waiting months or years for support, it’s clear that the system is struggling to respond to the mental health challenges that young people are experiencing.
“It is particularly worrying that over a third of children are still waiting for treatment - many for more than two years. The longer young people go without good-quality mental health support, the more unwell they can become, increasing the likelihood of needing to access support from crisis and A&E services. A deterioration in a young person’s mental health can also have serious impacts on their relationships, education, and future opportunities.
“The UK Government’s upcoming mental health strategy is a pivotal opportunity to transform the mental health of the next generation. This requires a shift towards mental health support that is responsive, tailored, and person-centred, ensuring all young people can access high-quality conversations about their mental health needs, when it matters most.”
