Figures show more than a million children need treatment for serious mental health problems, including eating disorders, in the time since lockdowns were imposed in England.
NHS data analysed by the PA news agency show a 39 percent rise in a year in referrals for NHS mental health treatment for under-18s, to 1,169,515 in 2021 to 2022.
This compares with the previous year of 2020 to 2021, when the figure was 839,570. In 2019 to 2020 there were 850,741 referrals.
From 2020 to early 2022 the UK government imposed multiple COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions.
The England-wide data include children who are suicidal, self-harming, suffering serious depression or anxiety, and those with eating disorders….