Anxiety in children across the UK

Anxiety in Children Across the UK, a Growing Crisis.

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health issues affecting children in the UK today. According to data from NHS Digital, over 204,000 new referrals for anxiety were made to children and young people’s mental health services in 2023, 2024, more than double the number from just four years earlier (NHS Digital, 2024). Yet, thousands of these children are still waiting for support, with some waiting over two years to be seen.

The Children’s Commissioner has highlighted that more than 270,000 children were stuck on waiting lists for mental health services in 2022, 2023, while another 372,000 had their cases closed without receiving treatment (Children’s Commissioner, 2023). This level of unmet need has become a national crisis.

The government’s plan to roll out Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) to every school is progressing too slowly. As of 2025, only 60% of children have access to MHSTs, meaning millions still go without adequate school-based mental health support (Department for Education, 2024).

At the same time, thresholds for referral to NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) remain high, often excluding those with early stage anxiety or less severe symptoms. As a result, many families are left feeling helpless, unable to access timely, appropriate care for their children.

How VÕS HELP is Changing the Game:

The Fastest Route to Mental Wellness in Children. VÕS HELP is a revolutionary mental health app for children, offering rapid support through real human counsellors and clinically guided tools. Unlike overstretched services, VÕS HELP connects children to qualified professionals in under 60 seconds, providing early intervention that can prevent escalation.

Region Specific, Child Friendly Help

VÕS HELP is tailored to meet the specific needs of families in Leeds and beyond. It is the go to mental health app for children in Leeds, delivering hyper local information, culturally sensitive tools, and pathways to further support. The app promotes mental wellness in children in Leeds by blending clinical expertise with interactive, child safe technology.

Whether your child is experiencing school stress, anxiety about friendships, or trouble sleeping, VÕS HELP is a mental health app that Leeds families can trust. With its easy to use interface, young people can safely explore their feelings and connect with someone real, without the long wait times or bureaucratic hurdles.

Conclusion

The data is clear, the UK's children are struggling with anxiety, and traditional services are simply not fast enough to meet the growing need. Mental health in children is not a future issue, it’s a crisis happening right now.

With VÕS HELP, we are not waiting around. We’re delivering support fast, reliably, and compassionately. It is the mental health app for children that’s transforming how we care for young minds, especially here in Leeds.

References

1. NHS Digital (2024), Mental Health Services Monthly Statistics

2. Children’s Commissioner (2023), Mental Health Services 2023 Report

3. Department for Education (2024), State of the Nation, Wellbeing 2023

4. Office for National Statistics (2023), Children’s Mental Health Data