Youth mental health "crisis" warning
The number of children and young people referred to mental health services in England surpassed a million for the first time last year, a new report today shows – with referrals up 10% on the previous year and almost double the number recorded in 2018/19.
The annual report by children’s commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza warned that increasing numbers of young people also faced long waits for support. In it, she writes: “I am in no doubt that we are facing a crisis in young people’s mental health.”
Anxiety was the most common cause for referral, accounting for 16% of all cases, but there were also large increases in the number of referrals made to support neurodivergent children, including autism, ADHD and Tourette’s syndrome.
In 2024/25, more than a third of those children were still waiting for treatment, with over 60,000 waiting more than two years.
Dame Rachel called the figures “stark” and said that although more children received support last year, mental health services for young people faced a “colossal challenge” as demand continues to outpace capacity and funding.
She said it was vital to shift the approach towards a greater focus on joined-up services across health, education and social care to ensure better access to support in schools and the community.
The well-documented rise in the numbers of young people needing mental health support – and the corresponding squeeze on state-provided services – led LionHeart to establish the provision of youth counselling sessions a few years ago.
Provided in partnership with specialist youth counsellors Open Door, we can provide fast access to free counselling for the children of RICS professionals in the UK, aged 12 and up.
LionHeart support services manager Bena Kansara said: “As a parent it can be really hard to watch your young person struggle with their mental health – and it is even harder if the help that you are asking for is not forthcoming.
“Timely support is so important for better outcomes, not only for the child themselves but also for the wider family, because it takes a massive toll on all concerned. At LionHeart we can get the ball rolling to get your child professional support, but we can also be here to support the parents through this worrying time.
“The feedback provided by those who have used our youth counselling service shows what lifeline it can be. I would urge any surveyor who is worried about their child’s mental health to pick up the phone and talk to one of our support team – this is not something you have to handle alone.”
Read more:
- LionHeart youth counselling service
- Read Dame Rachel de Souza's report in full here
