There has been a dramatic rise in the number of children needing treatment for serious mental health problems including eating disorders, figures show. NHS data analysed by the PA news agency shows a 39% rise in a year in referrals for NHS mental health treatment for under-18s, to more than a million (1,169,515) in 2021/22.
This compares with the previous year 2020/21 – pandemic year – when the figure was 839,570. In 2019/20 there were 850,741 referrals. The England-wide data includes children who are suicidal, self-harming, suffering serious depression or anxiety, and those with eating disorders.
Meanwhile, NHS Digital data analysed by PA shows hospital admissions for eating disorders are rising among children and young people. Among under-18s, there were 7,719 admissions in 2021/22, up from 6,079 the previous year and 4,232 in 2019/20 – an 82% rise across two years.
