Anna Freud responds to a reported rise in mental health-related A&E attendances among children and young people
Claire Evans, our Acting CEO, says government needs to put children’s mental health at the heart of its new mental health strategy.
New figures have today (2 September 2026) revealed a reported rise in mental health-related A&E attendances in England, particularly among younger children.
An analysis of NHS England data obtained through a Freedom of Information request by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) suggests that attendances of six to 17-year-olds with a recorded mental health concern rose significantly from 2019 to 2025.
The analysis suggests this rise was sharpest among children aged six to nine.
The figures emerge only days after Anna Freud released polling from parents revealing that a minority of parents - one in 10 - say they have enough support for their child’s mental health and wellbeing.
Our response
Claire Evans, Acting CEO at Anna Freud, said:
“Today’s figures are deeply concerning and yet more evidence of the work urgently needed to protect and nurture children’s mental health. But numbers only ever tell part of the story. Behind each one is a distressed child, parent or carer so concerned about their wellbeing that their only option was an accident and emergency department. These emergency departments carry out incredible work, but they are not set up to provide the child-centred care and support these families need and deserve.
“The government needs to act now. The right help at the right time can make a significant difference to children and young people’s mental health. Investment is needed to not only increase access to specialist services but also to fund effective prevention and early intervention. The new mental health strategy must also place children at its heart, creating the conditions for lifelong positive mental health and accelerating investment in accessible, community-based support.
“Today’s shocking figures demand action and should be a stark warning to government that they need to match the scale of the problem with equal ambition.”
Find out more
Anna Freud is a mental health charity, transforming care for children and young people through science, collaboration and clinical innovation.
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