Crisis by Default: The Alarming Rise of Children in A&E for Mental Health Care

The sight of a six-year-old child brought into an Accident and Emergency department in emotional distress is heart-wrenching. Between 2019 and 2025, there was a 36% rise in children and young people attending A&E units for mental health crises. Over 75,000 attendances were recorded in 2025 alone, with some of the biggest increases seen in very young children.

Emergency departments were never designed to provide long-term care or support for children struggling with their mental health. Instead, they often become a default destination when community-based services are lacking. This crisis by default situation reflects a broader failure to invest in early intervention and prevention services that could help vulnerable children before they reach breaking point.

Dr. Sam Jones, an officer for mental health with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, notes that behind every one of these statistics is a child or young person in distress. The government’s plans to publish a new mental health strategy later this summer offer a glimmer of hope, but concrete action is needed to address the root causes of this crisis.

Investing in community-based services, providing better training for staff across health, social care, and education, and creating systems that prioritize prevention over emergency response are crucial steps. However, these efforts should not be limited to specific initiatives like young futures hubs, which bring together support services for mental health, employment, sports, and volunteering.

These types of programs have the potential to provide early intervention and prevention services tailored to children’s needs. Nevertheless, they should complement more comprehensive investment in community-based care rather than replace it. As we move forward, it is essential that we prioritize the voices and experiences of children and families living through this crisis every day.

We must create systems that listen to them, respond to their needs, and provide support that is accessible, effective, and compassionate. The alarm bells are ringing loud and clear – but will we act in time to prevent further harm? It’s time for us to take responsibility for creating a society that truly values the mental health and well-being of its children.

Reader Views

TL
The Lab Desk · editorial
The statistics on children's mental health in A&E units are alarming, but they don't tell the whole story. Behind these numbers lies a system struggling to cope with demand, while neglecting to address the root causes of this crisis. It's time to rethink our approach and move away from emergency response towards proactive prevention. We need to invest in community-based services that can provide early intervention, tailored support, and holistic care - not just patchwork initiatives like young futures hubs.
CP
Cole P. · science writer
While it's laudable that the government is planning to publish a new mental health strategy, we mustn't forget that prevention is only half the battle. What about those children who have already slipped through the cracks? The article rightly emphasizes the need for community-based services and better staff training, but I'd argue that we also need to focus on de-stigmatizing mental health support in schools. By normalizing conversations around emotional wellbeing, we can empower young people to seek help before they reach a breaking point.
DE
Dr. Elena M. · research scientist
The alarming rise in children attending A&E for mental health crises underscores a fundamental flaw in our system: we're treating symptoms, not addressing root causes. While initiatives like young futures hubs are valuable, they're often siloed and resource-intensive, leaving behind countless other vulnerable children. What's missing is a systemic overhaul of how we allocate resources, prioritizing prevention over emergency response. We need to rethink how community-based services interact with schools and healthcare providers to catch mental health issues early on, before they escalate into full-blown crises.

Children's Mental Health Crisis in A&E

Crisis by Default: The Alarming Rise of Children in A&E for Mental Health Care

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