Children as young as six facing mental health crises in A&E, doctors warn
Paediatricians report a deeply alarming rise in children as young as six attending A&E in mental health crisis, often waiting days for help.
Children as young as six are reaching mental health crisis point and turning to hospital emergency departments because they cannot get help elsewhere, leading paediatricians have warned. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) says more children are arriving at A&E in need of urgent mental health support, with some waiting days in noisy and busy departments before they receive appropriate care.
The warning comes amid growing concern about the state of children’s mental health services in England. Doctors describe the trend as “deeply alarming”, noting that very young children are presenting with serious psychological distress. The college is calling for urgent action to ensure that children and families can access timely mental health support before a crisis develops, rather than having to rely on emergency departments as a last resort.
According to the RCPCH, the pressures on paediatric services are being compounded by a lack of community-based mental health provision. Parents often have nowhere else to turn when their child’s condition deteriorates, leaving A&E as the only option. The college argues that this is neither appropriate nor sustainable, and that early intervention is critical to preventing long-term harm.
The warning has been echoed by children’s doctors across the country, who report that the problem is not confined to older teenagers but is increasingly affecting primary school-age children. The RCPCH is urging the government to invest in mental health services for children and young people, including more community teams, school-based support, and crisis services that can respond quickly and effectively.
The college also highlights the impact of the wider environment on children’s mental health, including social pressures, school stress, and family difficulties. It says that without a comprehensive approach, the number of children reaching crisis point is likely to continue rising. The RCPCH is calling for a cross-government strategy that places children’s mental health at the centre of policy-making.
Doctors stress that A&E is not the right place for a child in mental health crisis, and that the experience can be distressing for both the child and their family. They are calling for a fundamental shift in how mental health support is delivered, with a focus on prevention and early help rather than crisis response. The college’s warning is the latest in a series of reports highlighting the growing demand for children’s mental health services and the strain on the NHS.
