Over one million children referred for mental healthcare – with anxiety the main reason

• Over one million children in England have been referred for mental healthcare, with anxiety as the leading presenting complaint, indicating a substantial and growing clinical need
• Referral demand significantly exceeds NHS capacity, resulting in years-long waiting times that delay treatment for children across various mental health conditions
• Current service provision is inadequate to meet population demand, presenting a significant challenge for primary care in managing child mental health presentations and onward referral pathways

Demand is soaring beyond capacity, meaning children in England wait years for help with various conditions.

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