THERE has been a dramatic rise in the number of children in England being referred for emergency mental health treatment, according to a new analysis.

Analysis of official data by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP) shows a 53 per cent rise in referrals to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services crisis teams in England.

The body said many of these under-18s have suffered worsening mental health while on NHS waiting lists for treatment, some of which last almost two years.