There has been an alarming increase in the number of children and young people presenting to hospital emergency departments with mental health crises in England.
According to a new analysis by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, more than 75,000 children and young people aged 6 to 17 will visit emergency departments for mental health problems in 2025, a 36% increase on 2019.
According to information obtained from the National Institute of Health, the highest increase was among children aged 6 to 9 years.
The number of pediatric emergency admissions for emotional distress, self-harm and eating disorders far exceeded overall general emergency attendances, while the overall number of patients in emergency departments increased by only 8% over the same period.
According to the report, more than 6,200 children, or about 8 percent, waited more than 12 hours to receive appropriate mental health help or a safe place in an emergency, with some children waiting more than 72 hours for psychiatric help or a bed to become available.
According to experts, doctors, police, parents and caregivers are often forced to bring such children to emergency departments as the community-level support system is under severe pressure.
Dr Sam Jones, mental health officer at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said emergency departments were not designed to hold such children for days.
Gemma Byrne, of mental health charity Mind, has also expressed concern about long waits, saying the emergency environment is already terrifying for children going through a mental crisis and waiting hours for help is unacceptable.
Experts say that in the current system, most children do not receive treatment until their condition is very serious, making it difficult to provide help at an early stage.
The Department of Health and Social Care has acknowledged the seriousness of the problem, saying no child should reach the point of mental breakdown before seeking help.
According to authorities Investment in various projects including mental health teams in schools continues While more than 150 new community centers have also been established.
The English government is also expected to release a comprehensive mental health strategy later this year aimed at providing early support and reducing reliance on emergency departments for children with mental health crises.