Metric permalink

Children's mental-health caseload

Official (Development)

Part of the Childhood and Social Floor domain. Number of children and young people with an open referral to NHS Children and Young People's Mental Health Services, a measure of demand pressure on the service.

Latest data

Latest reading

Latest value

524thousand children with an open referral to CYP mental-health services

July 2026

Previous value

539thousand children with an open referral to CYP mental-health services

−10 pts

Change between the two latest observations (June 2026 to July 2026), in stress score.

Direction of badnesshigher is worse

A higher reading is treated as worse for this indicator.

Score composition

Stress score

55/100

Since the September 2026 release

−13 ptsfrom 68 to 55

What changed on this indicator between the two releases: new observation, source changed.

Blended from two measured components: (2/3 weight) and trend (1/3 weight); where no trend can be computed the metric is scored on its level alone. Volatility is published as a diagnostic and does not enter the blend. Full formula on the methodology page.

Level · 2/3 weight

65bounds

Bounds: scored against fixed best/worst limits, used until a metric has about eight years of verified data to rank against.

Trend · 1/3 weight

36improving

Measured from the direction and size of the change between the two most recent readings.

Volatility · diagnostic, not blended

Measured from how much this indicator has swung period on period across its recorded history.

Data confidence and provenance

Confidence and source

0.65Low0.65

How much weight to put on the reading, the mean data-confidence across the component metrics (source quality, recency and completeness).

Source

NHS EnglandOfficial (Development)

Children and young people's mental health statistics

Update frequency: Monthly
Reliability: medium

View source series ↗

Provenance

Provider: NHS England (Mental Health Services Monthly Statistics)
Series ID: CYP in contact with mental health services
Frequency: monthly
Accessed: 1 October 2026

Known weakness

Published as 'in contact with services' (open referrals), which includes those receiving care as well as those waiting: not a pure waiting list; counting methodologies vary across NHS trusts.

Notes

Verified official value from NHS England (Mental Health Services Monthly Statistics) (CYP in contact with mental health services), accessed 2026-10-01.

Historical values

History

Period	Value	Relative
Mar 2026	521
Apr 2026	521
May 2026	528
June 2026	539
July 2026	524