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More than one-third of children remain on waiting lists for mental health treatment, with over 60,000 youngsters waiting longer than two years to receive support—an increase from just over 44,000 the previous year. Among those suspected of having autism or other neurodevelopmental conditions, fewer than 20% accessed treatment during 2024-25, and those who did experienced an average wait time of around one year.
Dame Rachel described these statistics as “stark” and acknowledged some progress, noting that although more children received support last year, the demand on mental health services continues to exceed the available resources and funding. She emphasized the pressing need to change the current approach, calling for better integration of services across health, education, and social care sectors. This integration, she suggested, is essential to ensure that children receive appropriate assistance within schools and local communities.
The charity YoungMinds expressed serious concerns regarding the additional obstacles faced by certain groups, especially black and racially minoritized children and young people, as well as those suspected of autism or neurodevelopmental disorders. Data reveals that black and Asian children are underrepresented in referrals to mental health services. Furthermore, when these children are referred, they are more likely to be in severe distress or crisis compared to their white peers. For example, 25% of black children referred were in crisis, in contrast to 16% of Asian children and just 7.4% of white children, prompting questions about why early intervention appears less accessible for ethnic minority groups.
Socioeconomic disparities are also evident in the referral patterns. Children from the most deprived 10% of areas in England account for 15% of referrals, while those from the least deprived 10% represent only 7.6%. This highlights the ongoing inequality in access to mental health services for children across different backgrounds
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