NHS-sourced information. General health information only — not personal medical advice. Always consult your GP or specialist.

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BBC Health Mental Health 02 September 2026

Children as young as six going to A&E in mental health crisis

NHS emergency departments are seeing more cases of self-harm, eating disorders and emotional distress in young people.

📋 What this means for you AI-generated plain English summary
More children are having serious mental health problems**: Hospitals are seeing kids as young as six years old coming to the emergency room because they're struggling with their feelings, hurting themselves, or refusing to eatβ€”things that need urgent help.
Watch for warning signs in your child**: If your child talks about hurting themselves, stops eating, seems very sad or anxious all the time, or you're worried about their mental health, don't waitβ€”contact your GP, call NHS 111, or go to A&E so they can get support early.
Early help is important**: Getting your child help quickly from a doctor or counselor, rather than waiting until things get worse, can make a real difference in how they feel and recover.

Always speak to your doctor before making any changes to your health or treatment.

Source: BBC Health  ·  Read full article ↗

NHS emergency departments are seeing more cases of self-harm, eating disorders and emotional distress in young people.

📋 Remember: This is general health information. Always speak to your GP or specialist about your own health situation.
Read full article on BBC Health ↗

This article summarises content originally published by BBC Health. PatientIQ provides independent plain English summaries.

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