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.