Policy and service to children and young people’s mental health in England

This briefing covers Government policy on Children and young people’s mental health services (CYPMHS) from 2011 to present.

It looks at how children and young people’s mental health services in England work and sets out relevant Government policy and statistics.

In 2023, 20% of children aged 8 to 16 had a probable mental disorder.

Among young people aged 17 to 19, the rates of probable mental disorder increased from 10% in 2017 to 18% in 2020 (a statistically significant increase).

Between 2020 and 2021 the rates remained similar before increasing again between 2021 and 2022, from 17% to 26%. In 2023, rates remained fairly stable at 23%.