NHS seeing 'national crisis' as thousands of children as young as six attending A&E for mental health issues
The rise in the number of children in distress visiting hospital has also been described as a "scandal"
Thousands of children as young as six are being treated at A&E for mental health issues, according to new figures.
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Medics have seen an "unacceptable" rise in the number of children and young people in distress attending emergency departments.
New data has revealed that the NHS has seen the number of those aged between six and nine reporting mental health problems increase by more than 1,200 since 2019.
In 2025, 75,491 children and young people aged six to 17 attended emergency departments with a recorded mental health concern, which represents a 36% increase since 2019.
A report by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health [RCPCH] says the rise has been fastest among children aged between six and nine.
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."
Dr Ronny Cheung, RCPCH officer for health services, also said: "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."
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said in response: "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."