Children and young people referred for mental health treatment in England have exceeded one million for the first time, according to an analysis of NHS data by the Children’s Commissioner. The figures cover the 12 months to March 2025 and show that 1,048,965 children had active referrals to Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services.
This means they were either waiting for treatment or already receiving support. The total represents around one in every ten children in England and is almost double the number recorded in 2018 and 2019. In her annual report published on Monday, Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza described the situation as a mental health crisis affecting young people across the country.
The report revealed that referrals for children’s mental health services increased by almost 10 percent over the past year. More than one in three children referred for support were still waiting to begin treatment. It also found that more than 60,000 children had been waiting for over two years for help, an increase of 15,000 compared with the previous year. The average waiting time for support stood at 128 days.
Dame Rachel said the figures highlight the scale of emotional distress facing young people, adding that many children’s lives have been put on hold while they wait months or even years for the care they urgently need. She acknowledged that more children received support during the past year but warned that demand continues to outpace the capacity and funding available to mental health services.
The report noted that there is no single explanation for the sharp rise in referrals. However, the largest increase was linked to suspected autism, with referrals rising by 47 percent. Referrals for other neurodevelopmental conditions increased by 24 percent, while anxiety related cases rose by 12 percent.
