NHS Activity Tracker: August 2025

Mental health

In June 2025, there were 476,780 new mental health referrals, up by 14% compared with figures seen a year ago and 57.6% higher than six years ago, before the pandemic. 
There were a record high 2.36 million open referrals to mental health services in June 2025, up by 9% on last year and 44% higher than six years ago, before the pandemic.
Open referrals for CYP reached 573,520 in June, 12% higher than a year ago and more than double pre-pandemic figures. Adult open referrals rose to 1.78 million, up by 8% compared to a year ago.
In the 12 months to June 2025, a record high 848,060 CYP accessed mental health services. Compared to a year ago, this figure is up by 6% and has been gradually increasing each month since August 2024.

The number of people in contact with mental health services rose to a record high 2.16 million in June. Compared to a year ago, this figure has increased by 11% and compared to pre-pandemic levels, this is up by more than half (58%). 
There were a record high 2.38 million care contacts attended during June, up by 19% on last year and 41% higher than six years ago, before the pandemic.

Between April and June 2025, 200,160 CYP accessed support through NHS funded mental health services, up by 6% since last year.
The number of children and young people still waiting for first contact from community mental health services was 381,230 in the three months to June 2025. There has been an 9% increase in this figure since last year. The median wait time for those still waiting for a first contact since referral is 280 days, 72 days more than last year.
For adults with serious mental health illness, 129,130 received their second contact with services, 13% more than over the same period last year.
191,070 adults with serious mental illness were still waiting for their second contact from community mental health services, nearly a quarter (23%) fewer than last year.  The median wait time for second contact since referral for adults is 70 days, this is around two months less than last year.

At the end of June 2025, there were 439 OAPs in adult acute beds, broadly unchanged since the previous month but 31% higher than last year.