Report by Duncan Williams for Pulman's Weekly News
More than one million children and young people in England were referred to NHS mental health services last year, with suspected autism and anxiety among the biggest drivers behind the rising demand, according to a major new report.
Analysis of NHS England data by the Children’s Commissioner for England shows that 1,048,965 children had active referrals to Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services (CYPMHS) during the 12 months to March 2025 – equivalent to around one in every 10 children.
The figure represents a 9.5 per cent increase in just one year and is almost double the 563,639 referrals recorded in 2018-19, highlighting the growing pressure on children’s mental health services across the country.
In her annual report, Dame Rachel de Souza said she was “in no doubt that we are facing a crisis” in young people’s mental health.
She added: “These are not just numbers, but children whose lives have been put on hold for months an…
