Mental health and learning disability sector

Referrals (August 2025)

• In August 2025, new mental health referrals fell to 395,590, 20.9% lower than the previous month but slightly higher than the same time last year (see figure 6). This is the first monthly decrease since April 2025, though it remains the highest figure recorded for any August. New referrals are 37.2% higher than six years ago, before the pandemic.
• There were 2.16 million open referrals to mental health services - the highest August figure on record and 42% above pre-pandemic levels. Adult open referrals fell by 2.3% compared to last year, to 1.63m. Open referrals for CYP rose by 8.3% compared to last year, reaching 530,030 in August. 
• In the 12 months to August 2025, 842,900 CYP accessed mental health services, a 6% increase compared to a year ago. 

FIGURE 6
New referrals into mental health, learning disabilities and autism services 

Contacts (August 2025)

• After reaching a record high last month, the number of people in contact with mental health fell to 2 million in August. However, this is an increase of 3.1% compared to last year and 45.4% higher than pre-pandemic levels.
• There were 2.05 million care contacts attended in August, up 2.6% on last year and nearly a quarter (23.4%) higher than six years ago, before the pandemic. 

Community mental health (June to August 2025)

• Between June and August 2025, 182,940 CYP accessed support through NHS funded mental health services – the lowest figure recorded since October 2024.
• The number of children and young people still waiting for a first contact from community mental health services was 340,840 in the three months to August. This is 2.4% higher than the same period last year. The median wait times for those still waiting was 312 days, 72 days longer than last year. 
• For adults with serious mental illness, 128,640 received their second contact with services in the three-month period to August, up by 17% on the same period last year. 
• 192,000 adults with serious mental illness were still waiting for treatment from community mental health services in the three months to August - 18% fewer than during the same period last year. The median wait time for a second contact since referral for adults was 70 days, 52 days shorter than last year. 

FIGURE 7
Children and young people still waiting for first contact from community health services at the end of the three-month rolling reporting period

Out of area placements (OAPs) (August 2025)

• At the end of August 2025, there were 403 OAPs in adult acute beds, 26.3% higher than last year.