image: ©SeventyFour| iStock

The NHS Alliance warns that pressure on children’s mental health services is widening a treatment gap, with many young people unable to access support or facing long waits. It urges the government to introduce a national performance target focused on holding services accountable and ensuring quicker access to care for all children.

Official data reveals that despite significant progress in many trusts, there are still over 90,000 children and young people with mental ill health waiting more than two years following a referral for their first meaningful contact with NHS specialist community mental health services in England.

Furthermore, between December 2025 and February 2026, around 70% of children and young people with a mental health need had to wait over four weeks.

The NHS Alliance is calling on the government to adopt an official four-week standard from the first referral, to make both the NHS and the government accountable for improving access to children’s mental health treatment.

A survey of over 200 mental health leaders found 64% expect tougher finances this year, 94% are concerned about rising demand, and 61% say financial pressures may impact care quality.

The director of The NHS Alliance’s Mental Health Network, Rebecca Gray, said: “Mental health is centre-stage in national debate and is fundamental to what the government is trying to achieve. There is growing recognition of its key role in supporting economic activity, education and public wellbeing. But despite being an important element in the 10-Year Health Plan, mental health has less visibility than other NHS pressures.

Gray continued, “ongoing mental health prevalence and service reviews may help shift the dial, but it is important that conclusions are translated into action if we are to address the appalling treatment gap faced by people with mental ill health.

“If that means targets in relation to people, particularly young people, being able to access the mental healthcare they need, bring it on.

“We know the sector faces major challenges – we recognise the importance of accountability and ensuring lessons are learned when things go wrong.

“We want the same accountability, and visibility, for waiting times as the hospital sector.

“But let’s also learn from the extraordinary successes that are being delivered, often without fanfare, which underline the fact that meeting the mental health needs of the population is not an “add on” to addressing pressure elsewhere in the NHS; it is a core part of the solution.

“Mental health leaders deserve recognition for the progress they are making, and support to think radically about what is possible to better serve our communities.”