Children’s mental health crisis deepens: severe shortage of psychiatrists to meet growing demand

• Print this page
• Share this page
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
• Email this page

Analysis from the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) finds that the number of children and young people accessing treatment for mental health conditions in England has risen by 27% (from 628,454 to 798,479) in just three years from September 2021 to September 2024.¹

Over the same period, Child and Adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) have struggled to recruit enough consultant psychiatrists across England.² The latest RCPsych Workforce census found that CAMHS has faced the highest consultant vacancy rate of any psychiatric specialism.

The census found that of 842 available child and adolescent consultant psychiatrist posts in England, one in five (19.2% or 162 posts) were vacant. Combined with posts being covered by locums, the total vacancy rate is now more than one in three (36.8% or 310 posts).³

Too many children experience a deterioration in their mental health while on waiting lists. At the end of September 2024 there were 352,682 children and young people under 18 waiting for a first contact with NHS-funded mental health services, with 1 in 10 of those children and young people waiting for more than two years (at least 798 days).⁴

Around half of mental health conditions arise before the age of 14 and three quarters before the age of 24. Many children and young people can recover if treated early and avoid developing long term conditions.

CAMHS is an exciting and developing specialty, with a growing research base, and provides highly valued services.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists has launched a campaign to encourage medical students and newly qualified doctors to #ChoosePsychiatry and address workforce shortages.

The College will also work with the UK Government to fully implement the updated NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, and ensure the Ten Year Health Plan, currently being consulted on, reflects the key priorities for mental health services.

Calling for medical students and foundation doctors to #ChoosePsychiatry, Dr Elaine Lockhart, Chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Child and Adolescent Faculty, said:

“I’ve seen first-hand what happens when children are supported and diagnosed early. The evidence shows us that children who receive support quickly are less likely to develop long-term conditions that negatively affect their education, social development and health in later life.

“The current waiting times are too long. But it doesn’t have to be this way. If current vacant posts were filled, waiting times would reduce significantly, and more children would receive care before their condition is exacerbated.

“Expansion of the mental health workforce and additional funding for services can help meet this demand and investing in children’s mental health will ultimately free up NHS time and resources, while ensuring the country has a healthy and productive population in the years to come.

“Working with infants, children and families is fascinating and rewarding which gives doctors the chance to transform patient’s lives at a crucial time in their development. There are many areas for further research and service developments so this work can suit a wide range of junior doctors, and the specialty is very family friendly. For anyone interested in working with young people this work is for them!”

The seven-week #ChoosePsychiatry campaign is backed by Stephen Fry, Alastair Campbell, Ruby Wax and Jo Brand, and includes two films set in a podcasting studio:

In one film, two medical students interview two psychiatrists to help them decide whether to choose psychiatry.

In the other, two trainees interview more senior consultant psychiatrists about the support available for doctors taking a break during their career.

References

1. Monthly Statistical Dashboard shows a rise of 628,454 to 798,479 (27%) from September 2021 to September 2024.
2. The 2021 RCPsych Workforce Census found that child and adolescent psychiatry had the second highest 'true vacancy' rate for consultant psychiatrists at 30.5%, only behind eating disorders. The 2023 RCPsych Workforce Census found that the 36.8% consultant 'true vacancy rate' was the highest across all psychiatry specialties.
3. The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2023 Workforce Census.
4. Sources: Datasets MHS133 and MHS135 an respectively from NHS Digital, Mental Health Monthly Statistics. At the end of September 2024, 352,682 children and young people were waiting for a first contact with mental health services, of that group the 90^th percentile waiting time is 798 days (the median is 242 days, based on dataset MHS134 from the same collection).