> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Number of children accessing mental health support triples in five years
- URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/mental-health-support-for-ipswich-children-triples-in-five-years/
- Published: 2024-09-17T04:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-03-16T15:35:25.000Z
- Description: NHS figures show a sharp rise in young people accessing mental health services in Suffolk, mirroring a national trend experts say is driven by pandemic impacts and societal pressures.
- Author: Oliver Rouane-Williams
- Tags: News, Health & Care Services, Mental Health, #article, Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB), #Import 2026-03-16 14:46

**The big picture:** The number of under-18s receiving mental health support from [NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/nhs-suffolk-and-north-east-essex-integrated-care-board/) has jumped from 2,230 in June 2019 to 6,570 in June 2023.

- This represents a tripling of young people accessing services in the area over five years.

**Zooming out:** Nationally, 460,000 children and young people were in contact with mental health services in June 2023, nearly double the number from five years ago.

**Why it matters:** The surge highlights growing mental health challenges facing young people in Ipswich and across the UK and the increased strain that places on health services and charities.

- Poverty, discrimination, housing insecurity, and academic pressure are all contributing factors, according to youth mental health charity YoungMinds.
- The charity's chief executive, Laura Bunt, said youth mental health is a "huge problem society can no longer turn away from".

**What they're saying:** "Support must be revolutionised," Bunt said, calling for the government to introduce early support hubs and involve young people in shaping health services.

**The other side:** The Department for Health and Social Care said it will provide "specialist mental health support in every school and walk-in Young Futures hubs in every community".

**The bottom line:** As demand for youth mental health services continues to rise, pressure is mounting on local and national authorities to expand support and address underlying causes.

### Independent local journalism is expensive to produce

It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners.