Anxiety levels in children in England have reached record highs, shocking even seasoned NHS professionals. A recent investigation reveals that over 204,000 children were referred to NHS mental health services for anxiety in 2023-24, a figure that is more than double the pre-Covid levels. The surge has left health services struggling to cope, raising concerns about the NHS’s ability to support this vulnerable population. A doctor working in children’s mental health services in northern England described the figures as “jaw-dropping,” despite having witnessed the rise in demand firsthand. The sheer scale of the problem, laid bare by official data, has…
