New figures reveal a record number of referrals to children and young people's mental health services in March, with average waiting times also reaching unprecedented levels. The analysis, conducted by the charity YoungMinds, highlights what it describes as the 'sheer scale of the mental health emergency' facing young people in the UK.
Record Referrals and Waiting Times
According to NHS England data, 932,822 individuals under the age of 18 had an active referral to mental health services in March, including 134,837 new referrals. Both figures represent the highest numbers ever recorded for a single month. New referrals increased by 11% compared to February and by 2% from the same period last year.
Waiting times have also deteriorated significantly. The number of urgent, very urgent, and emergency care referrals for young people reached 8,631, a 16% increase from the previous month's total of 7,443. The previous record high was 1,284 in June 2025. Average waiting times have now exceeded 300 days for eight consecutive months, standing at 301 days in March—13 days longer than the same period last year.
Extreme Cases and Charity Response
In the most extreme cases, some patients waited more than two-and-a-half years—1,006 days—to receive treatment, an increase of 146 days from the previous year and another record high. Abigail Ampofo, interim chief executive at YoungMinds, expressed deep concern over the findings.
'These alarming figures highlight the sheer scale of the mental health emergency,' Ampofo said. 'While waiting lists for physical health problems are decreasing, the time young people spend trying to access specialist mental health support continues to rise. Pressures such as academic demands, rising living costs, and inequality are harming young people's mental health.'
She called for increased investment in mental health services and action on the root causes of poor mental health. 'The announcement of a cross-government mental health strategy is welcome, but with a record number of young people being referred, we cannot wait until that strategy is in place. We need both a long-term plan and urgent action.'
It is estimated that approximately one in five individuals aged eight to 25 now have mental health problems, including anxiety and depression.
