Between 2023 and 2024, there were 204,526 new referrals of patients aged 17 years or younger with anxiety symptoms as the primary cause.
Between 2019 and 2020, the year before the Covid-19 pandemic, official numbers put the total at 98,953. 3,879 cases were reported in 2016-17.
An alarming increase in new young patients with anxiety attacks, children being referred to National Health Service (NHS) mental health services in England. One every three minutes or nearly four thousand a week.
NHS staff, doctors and those responsible for health services have already expressed concern about the rise in anxiety reports. “shocking”. They also clarified that there is an “urgent need to address the crisis in children’s mental health”.
Faced with such an increase in referrals, “waiting lists for healthcare are unacceptably long” and delays in treatment “risk causing further damage at a critical moment” in the journey with children.
For many experts, The pandemic and lockdowns have caused “significant disruption” to children’s lives and amplified all the stress they already face.
They believe that after the first four years of covid infection, “many children are uncertain about the world around them and worried about the future”.
The urgency of addressing mental health
Andy Bell, chief executive of the British charity Center for Mental Health, was quoted in the release The Guardian“These numbers highlight the urgency to address the mental health of children and young people today. In recent years, particularly since 2020, there has been a significant increase in the number of children and young people reporting diagnosable mental health difficulties, including anxiety..
Bell adds that the new data tell only part of the story: “Many affected children do not seek help despite growing awareness. These numbers are probably only a tip.” Glacier”.
The researcher clarifies that Covid is not the only cause of concern and identifies other factors such as “academic pressures, especially related to exams”.
It further states that “Rising poverty and inequality have contributed to fueling anxiety among children and young people, as have families’ financial difficulties and the impact of racism.“.
Other evidence also points to harm from emissions Online“Like Cyberbullying And pressures around appearance are relentless and can trigger anxiety in children”, warns the expert.
“The epidemic increases these pressures on children and young people, disrupting their routines and increasing feelings of isolation and uncertainty about the world and their future”Bell concludes.
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