More children than ever need mental health care as figures show nearly half a million are awaiting treatment

Nearly half a million children are waiting for mental health treatment, with some youngsters left to languish for several years before being seen by medics in what has been described as a “scandal”.

The NHS figures, analysed by The Independent, show that a record 496,897 under-18s had been referred by a GP for treatment under Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs) at the end of November last year – up from 493,434 the month before.

Anxiety and depression are among the most common conditions for which children are being referred. One mother, whose 11-year-old daughter is still awaiting treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), said: “I don’t want her to become suicidal with this. The system is. Unless you’re in it, you don’t get how broken it is.”