Child Mental Health Admissions to Acute Wards in England Rise 65% in a Decade
Research highlights a significant increase in hospital admissions due to mental health concerns among children and young people, with notable spikes in self-harm cases.
The number of children and young people admitted to acute hospital wards in England due to serious mental health concerns has surged by 65% over the last decade.
A new study, published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health journal, details the sharp increase from approximately 24,198 admissions in 2012/13 to 39,925 in 2021/22. This trend is particularly pronounced among girls who have self-harmed.
In 2021, nearly 40,000 children received treatment for acute mental health issues in general wards annually, compared to about 24,000 ten years prior.
This represents a significantly higher increase compared to the 10.1% rise in admissions for all health conditions over the same period, with numbers rising from 311,067 to 342,511.
General acute medical wards serve as critical points for rapid assessment and treatment, differing from specialised mental health wards like those for eating disorders.
These wards are becoming increasingly essential in managing cases with both physical and mental health concerns, such as those related to eating disorders.
The analysis by Dr Lee Hudson from UCL highlights an 'alarming deterioration' in the mental health of young people.
More than half (53.4%) of the admissions were due to self-harm.
The data also reveals that the highest increase occurred among girls aged 11 to 15, with noticeable rises in children aged five to 10 and significant rates of self-harm in females.
The study notes a marked rise in admissions related to eating disorders, escalating from 478 to 2,938 annually over the decade.
Of the 239,541 admissions recorded between 2012/13 and 2021/22 for mental health issues, 13.4% of patients were re-admitted within six months.
While some factors like the Covid-19 pandemic, social inequality, and internet-related harm could contribute to this ongoing crisis, the study underscores that the rise in mental health admissions predates the pandemic and reflects a broader increase in mental health issues among young people.
Claire Murdoch, NHS England's mental health director, has highlighted the NHS's efforts to address the growing demand for mental health services by establishing mental health teams in schools and providing round-the-clock crisis support.
Despite this, hospital admissions sometimes remain necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of the children and young people involved.
A new study, published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health journal, details the sharp increase from approximately 24,198 admissions in 2012/13 to 39,925 in 2021/22. This trend is particularly pronounced among girls who have self-harmed.
In 2021, nearly 40,000 children received treatment for acute mental health issues in general wards annually, compared to about 24,000 ten years prior.
This represents a significantly higher increase compared to the 10.1% rise in admissions for all health conditions over the same period, with numbers rising from 311,067 to 342,511.
General acute medical wards serve as critical points for rapid assessment and treatment, differing from specialised mental health wards like those for eating disorders.
These wards are becoming increasingly essential in managing cases with both physical and mental health concerns, such as those related to eating disorders.
The analysis by Dr Lee Hudson from UCL highlights an 'alarming deterioration' in the mental health of young people.
More than half (53.4%) of the admissions were due to self-harm.
The data also reveals that the highest increase occurred among girls aged 11 to 15, with noticeable rises in children aged five to 10 and significant rates of self-harm in females.
The study notes a marked rise in admissions related to eating disorders, escalating from 478 to 2,938 annually over the decade.
Of the 239,541 admissions recorded between 2012/13 and 2021/22 for mental health issues, 13.4% of patients were re-admitted within six months.
While some factors like the Covid-19 pandemic, social inequality, and internet-related harm could contribute to this ongoing crisis, the study underscores that the rise in mental health admissions predates the pandemic and reflects a broader increase in mental health issues among young people.
Claire Murdoch, NHS England's mental health director, has highlighted the NHS's efforts to address the growing demand for mental health services by establishing mental health teams in schools and providing round-the-clock crisis support.
Despite this, hospital admissions sometimes remain necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of the children and young people involved.
