Number of children as young as six going to A&E in mental health crisis rises, new figures reveal

The number of children as young as six going to A&E in a mental health crisis has risen sharply, new figures reveal.

The NHS has seen the number of youngsters aged between six and nine reporting mental health problems increase by more than 1,200 since 2019, according to new data.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) say there's been an "unacceptable" rise in the number of children and young people attending emergency departments with mental health concerns.

Figures obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request show that in 2025, 75,491 children and young people aged six to 17 attended emergency departments with a recorded mental health concern.

That's a 36% increase since 2019, when there were 55,525 attendances.

According to RCPCH's report on the NHS England data, the rise has been fastest among children aged between six and nine, as attendances among that age group increased by 62% over the same six-year period, from 3,870 in 2019 to 6,269 in 2025.

The report also points to how there's been a 217% increase in the number of children and young people staying more than 12 hours in A&E, from 1,964 in 2019 to 6,235 in 2025.

That while the number staying more than 72 hours rose by 514%, from 55 in 2019 to 338 in 2025.

Dr Sam Jones, RCPCH officer for mental health, said: "Behind every one of these figures is a child or young person in distress and a family who didn't know where else to turn.

"Emergency departments are a vital safety net, but they were never designed to be a place where children in mental health crisis wait for days at a time. Our health system is under mounting pressure.

"This is a national crisis that will only get worse without urgent intervention from government and NHS leaders. The scandal has to end."

Read more from Sky News:
Summer 2026 UK's 'hottest on record'
Man donates liver and bowel to son

Dr Ronny Cheung, RCPCH officer for health services, added: "This must be a wake-up call for government.

"The growing number of children reaching crisis point with their mental health is deeply alarming, particularly among younger children.

"Tackling children's mental health must be at the heart of any plan to improve life chances and opportunity. The prime minister and health secretary must urgently set out how they plan to address the crisis."

In response, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "No child should have to reach crisis point before getting the support they need.

"That's why we're making it easier to access mental health support in schools and colleges and opening more than 150 new mental health facilities, including community centres offering same-day, walk-in support – to help young people get help earlier and closer to home.

"Later this year, our Mental Health Strategy will set out our long-term plans to build a system that helps people earlier and ensures fewer young people end up needing emergency care."

(c) Sky News 2026: Number of children as young as six going to A&E in mental health crisis rises, new figures rev