Mind: Nearly half of young people miss school due to poor mental health

Nearly half of young people in England say their mental health has affected their attendance at school or college, according to a new report from the charity Mind.

The study, Care before Crisis, warns that long waits for treatment are leaving many children unable to learn or participate fully in education. More than half a million young people are currently on a waiting list for mental health support.

Mind has called on the government to expand early support hubs for 10–25-year-olds, arguing that early, community-based care would help prevent problems from worsening and reduce pressure on NHS services. About 70 hubs currently operate across England, offering walk-in support for mental health, housing, employment and sexual health without a GP or teacher referral.

Jemima Olchawski, director of social impact at Mind, said: “The nation is facing a mental health crisis, with young people bearing the brunt. The longer young people wait for care, the more unwell they become. This often has devastating impacts on relationships, educational outcomes and employment.”

The report, produced with the think tank More in Common, found that fewer than one in three children receive NHS mental health support in time. More than four in 10 young people said they felt stigmatised by public debate about ‘overdiagnosis’, while over half said they did not trust the government to address the crisis.

Mind is calling for a Young Futures hub in every local authority area and for a national plan to cut waiting times for children and young people’s mental health services.