Between 2023 and 2024, there were 204,526 new referrals for patients aged 17 years or younger with anxiety symptoms as the primary cause.
Between 2019 and 2020, the year before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, official figures show a total of 98,953. In 2016-2017, 3,879 cases were reported.
An alarming increase in the number of new young patients with anxiety attacks means that children are being referred to NHS mental health services in England at a rate One every three minutes or nearly four thousand a week.
NHS staff, doctors and health service leaders have already expressed concern about the increase in reports of anxiety. “Shocking”They also made clear that there is an “urgent need to address the children’s mental health crisis.”
Faced with such an increase in referrals, “waiting lists for health services are unacceptably long” and delays in treatment “risk causing further harm at a crucial moment” in the journey with children.
For many experts, The pandemic and lockdowns have caused “huge disruption” to children’s lives and exacerbated all the other stresses they already faced.
They believe that more than four years after the first case of Covid, “many children are still uncertain about the world around them and anxious about the future.”
The need to address mental health
Andy Bell, chief executive of the Centre for Mental Health, a British charity, was quoted in the post as saying: The Guardian“These figures highlight the urgent need to address the mental health of children and young people today,” it says. In recent years, and particularly since 2020, there has been a marked increase in the number of children and young people reporting diagnostic levels of mental health difficulties, including anxiety..
The new data only tells part of the story, Bell adds: “Many affected children do not seek help, despite increased awareness. These numbers are likely just the tip of the iceberg.” iceberg”
The researcher explains that Covid may not be the only cause of anxiety and identifies other factors such as “academic stress, especially those related to exams.”
He also points out that “Rising levels of poverty and inequality have also contributed to anxiety among children and young people, as have financial difficulties faced by families and the impact of racism.”
Other evidence also points to the harm caused by the posts. connected“, like cyberbullying The pressures surrounding appearance are relentless and can increase anxiety in children.
“The pandemic has amplified these pressures on children and young people, disrupting their routines and increasing feelings of isolation and uncertainty about the world and their future.”Bill concludes.
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