Tens of thousands of children and young people are waiting years for mental health treatment, the office of the children’s commissioner has warned.
Dame Rachel de Souza warned that some children were waiting a “significant portion of their young lives” for the support they needed, and called for “the right early support” to cut demand for health services.
In 2022, a Schools Week investigation found creaking mental health services leaving schools to pick up the pieces.
Data obtained by de Souza’s office using its legal powers shows 949,200 children and young people had active referrals to mental health services in the 2022-23 financial year. This can’t be compared to previous years due to a change in methodology.
