[Puffer Fish]

This is from the UK:
The Royal College of Psychiatrists reported a 53% rise in the number of children in mental health crisis over the past four years.
"We cannot allow childhood mental illness to become the new norm" - RCPsych Press release, 7 February 2024
" In just four years, psychiatrists and their teams have seen a 53% increase in the number of children in mental health crisis, who need emergency support. This includes young people who are suicidal, severely depressed and who have an eating disorder. There were 32,521 referrals to CAMHS crisis teams in 2022/23, compared to around 21,242 in 2019/20.

Many of these children have experienced a deterioration in their mental health while on waiting lists, as over-stretched CAMHS teams struggle to meet record demand. According to recently reported NHSE data, under-18s who are waiting for follow-up after a GP's referral have already waited on average five months, and in the worst case, almost two years.
'It's unacceptable that so many children and young people are reaching crisis point before they are able to access care. We cannot allow this to become the new norm,' said Dr Elaine Lockhart, Chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Child and Adolescent Faculty. "


This mirrors what has been going on in America.
related thread: Younger adult generation shows higher suicide rates amid rising financial pressures (in 'North America', 18 Jul 2023)


A 53 percent rise over just 4 years is rather shocking, I think we can all agree, and points to something being wrong.

I could speculate the reason this might be. Probably at least a part of it had to do with the Covid pandemic and shutdown, leading to many children not going outside as much, and taking away social interaction.
Then there could likely be economic effects, and the percentage of the childhood population with immigrant parents has drastically increased, so there may be more children growing up in households with financial stressors (perhaps even cultural stressors, since there can be some big cultural differences).
Then values have been changing, and the society has becoming increasingly irreligious, Christianity disappearing. I doubt this has so much of a direct effect on children but it could affect them through their parents, with fewer intact two-parent families.
And the recent "Transgender" phenomena among adolescents could be suspect as well, which has seemed to rather suddenly sweep over the society.

[richkidsq]

The recent report from the Royal College of Psychiatrists reveals a staggering 53% increase in the number of children experiencing mental health crises over the past four years, highlighting a critical situation in the UK. In 2022/23, there were 32,521 referrals to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) crisis teams, compared to about 21,242 in 2019/20. This surge includes young people facing severe issues such as suicidal thoughts, severe depression, and eating disorders. The report emphasizes that many of these children have deteriorated while waiting for care, with some waiting an average of five months for follow-up appointments after being referred by their GPs, and others waiting up to two years. Dr. Elaine Lockhart from RCPsych expressed concern that allowing this situation to become the norm is unacceptable.
This alarming trend mirrors similar patterns observed in North America, where younger generations are also facing rising mental health challenges amid financial pressures. Speculations regarding the causes of this increase include the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which limited social interactions for children, as well as economic stressors faced by families, particularly those with immigrant backgrounds. Additionally, societal changes such as decreasing religious affiliation and the complexities surrounding gender identity may contribute to the mental health landscape. The need for immediate action is underscored by various stakeholders who call for better support systems and more accessible mental health services to prevent children from reaching crisis points before receiving necessary care.

The recent report from the Royal College of Psychiatrists reveals a staggering 53% increase in the number of children experiencing mental health crises over the past four years, highlighting a critical situation in the UK. In 2022/23, there were 32,521 referrals to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) crisis teams, compared to about 21,242 in 2019/20. This surge includes young people facing severe issues such as suicidal thoughts, severe depression, and eating disorders. The report emphasizes that many of these children have deteriorated while waiting for care, with some waiting an average of five months for follow-up appointments after being referred by their GPs, and others waiting up to two years. Dr. Elaine Lockhart from RCPsych expressed concern that allowing this situation to become the norm is unacceptable.
This alarming trend mirrors similar patterns observed in North America, where younger generations are also facing rising mental health challenges amid financial pressures. Speculations regarding the causes of this increase include the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which limited social interactions for children, as well as economic stressors faced by families, particularly those with immigrant backgrounds. Additionally, societal changes such as decreasing religious affiliation and the complexities surrounding gender identity may contribute to the mental health landscape. The need for immediate action is underscored by various stakeholders who call for better support systems and more accessible mental health services to prevent children from reaching crisis points before receiving necessary care.


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