Across our recent survey, one issue came through louder than almost anything else: young people are waiting too long for the support they need and too often, whether they receive that support depends on where they live.
Both staff and young people highlighted long waiting times and inconsistent access to mental health and neurodevelopmental services as a major barrier to progression. For many, this isn’t just frustrating, it’s preventing them from moving forward into education, employment and stability.
A System Under Increasing Pressure
Demand for support has risen sharply in recent years. Services delivered through NHS England, particularly Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), are under significant strain.
Recent data shows:
- Over 550,000 children and young people are currently on waiting lists for mental health treatment in England
- Around 53% wait over a year, and 30% wait more than two years
- The average wait time is now 304 days, nearly a full year
At the same time, the number of young people experiencing mental health difficulties has increased significantly, with rates among 17–19-year-olds rising from 1 in 10 to 1 in 4 in just five years.
Awareness of neurodevelopmental conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder has also improved, but access to diagnosis and support has not kept pace.
The Reality of the “Postcode Lottery”
Staff in our survey described what is often called a “postcode lottery”, where access to support varies depending on location, rather than need.
Research shows that waiting times and access to CAMHS differ across the country, with longer waits often seen in more deprived areas. This creates a system where two young people with similar needs can have completely different experiences.
Organisations like YoungMinds have repeatedly raised concerns about these inequalities and their long-term impact on young people’s lives.
The Human Impact of Waiting
Behind every statistic is a real experience and young people in our survey were clear about how these delays feel:
“Mental health services have such long waiting lists.”
“Have more easily accessible help.”
Waiting is not a neutral experience. Evidence shows:
- 58% of young people say their mental health worsens while waiting
- Long waits are linked to declining mental health, family strain, and disengagement from support
- Some young people report reaching crisis point before receiving help
In some cases, the consequences are severe. Long waiting times can turn manageable conditions into long-term challenges, impacting education, employment, and overall wellbeing.
Barriers Beyond Waiting Lists
Young people also highlighted wider systemic challenges:
- High thresholds for support, feeling they are “not unwell enough” to qualify
- Complex and unclear referral pathways
- Lack of early intervention, with support often only available at crisis point
Nationally, only 36% of young people receive treatment within four weeks of referral, leaving many without timely support during critical stages of their development.
How Inspire Is providing timely, effective counselling to young people.
While national systems face growing pressure, local services can play a vital role in ensuring young people are not left without support.
At Inspire, our wellbeing service is designed to provide early, accessible counselling and support. Supporting young people before challenges escalate.
A key part of this offer is the experience and quality behind the support. Our service is led by a BACP accredited clinical lead with extensive experience across education, clinical practice, and youth work.
Our counselling provision follows a the BACP ethical framework, adhering to the recommended supervision to ensure safe, high-quality provision.
What makes this approach different is its flexibility, responsiveness, bespoke counselling service working integratively:
- Initial assessments are booked by the person/referrer via our booking calendar for a date that suits them.
- Counselling sessions typically available shortly after assessment
- 30-50 minute sessions tailored to individual needs
- Delivery online or face-to-face in Ipswich and Lowestoft
- Support available for young people aged 10+, with appropriate safeguarding in place
Our counselling approach is personalised, recognising that every young person’s experience is different. Through a blended therapeutic approach, sessions focus on supporting individuals:
- Understand and process their experiences
- Recognise triggers
- Build coping strategies
- Feel more in control of their emotions
- Build resilience, confidence and self esteem
Crucially, this support is available before crisis, working together effectively to stabilise wellbeing and keep young people engaged in their lives, education, and future plans.
This kind of therapeutic support is essential. Evidence consistently shows that timely support can reduce the long term effects of poor mental health and improve long-term outcomes.
At Inspire, our services don’t operate in isolation, they’re designed to work together. This means young people can move seamlessly between support, depending on what they need at that moment. If a young person accessing our wellbeing service would benefit from support with education or employment, they can be referred directly to a work coach or another Inspire programme. Equally, young people engaged in our employment or skills services can quickly access wellbeing support if challenges arise. This joined-up approach ensures support is timely, relevant, and centred around the whole person, not just one aspect of their journey.
Listening and Responding to Youth Voice
At Inspire, we see first-hand how the right support at the right time can change a young person’s trajectory.
Our survey reinforces what young people have been saying for years: they don’t just need support, they need it when it matters.
They are asking for services that are:
- Accessible
- Timely
- Consistent
And above all, they are asking to be heard.
References and further information
- Royal College of Psychiatrists (2026). Over half a million children on mental health waiting lists in England. Available at: https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/news-and-features/latest-news/detail/2026/02/11/half-a-million-children-on-mental-health-waiting-lists-in-england-risk-turning-to-ai-chatbots-for-support–warns-rcpsych
- YoungMinds (2026). Young people waiting an average of 304 days for mental health support. Available at: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/press-releases/young-people-waiting-an-average-of-304-days-for-mental-health-support/
- YoungMinds (2026). Mental health waiting times harming young people. Available at: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/press-releases/mental-health-waiting-times-harming-young-people/
- YoungMinds (2026). Increase in young people waiting over a year for mental health support. Available at: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/press-releases/increase-in-young-people-waiting-over-a-year-for-mental-health-support/
- British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions. Available at: https://www.bacp.co.uk
