NHS Activity Tracker: September 2025
Mental health and learning disability sector
2.15m
people in contact with mental health services in July
362,830
CYP waiting for first contact from community mental health services in July
2.35m
open referrals to mental health services in July
Referrals (July 2025)
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In July 2025, new mental health referrals rose to 499,830. This is the highest number of new referrals recorded in a month. New referrals are up by 9.2% compared to last year and 47.7% higher than six years ago, before the pandemic.
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The number of open referrals to mental health services rose by 8% from last year to 2.35 million. This is the highest July figure on record and 42% above pre-pandemic levels. The number of adult open referrals rose by 8% from last year to 1.79m, the highest on record. Open referrals for CYP rose by 10% from last year to 554,970.
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In the 12 months to July 2025, 846,110 CYP accessed mental health services, a 6% increase compared to a year ago. However, this is the first time that the figure has fallen on the month since August 2024.
Figure six
New referrals into mental health, learning disabilities and autism services
Contacts (July 2025)
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The number of people in contact with mental health has increased by 10.2% from last year to 2.15 million in July. Compared to pre-pandemic levels, this is up by more than half (55%).
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There were a record high 2.54 million care contacts attended during July, up by 12% on last year and nearly a third (31.5%) higher than six years ago, before the pandemic.
Community mental health (May to July 2025)
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Between May and July 2025, 205,940 CYP accessed support through NHS funded mental health services, up by 10% since last year.
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The number of children and young people still waiting for first contact from community mental health services was 362,830 in the three months to July. This is 5% higher than the same period last year, highlighting continued strain on services amid rising demand. The median wait times for those still waiting was 281 days, 72 days more than last year.
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For adults with serious mental illness, 131,800 received their second contact with services, up by 18% on the same period last year.
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192,240 adults with serious mental illness were still waiting for treatment from community mental health services in the three months to July, which is 18% fewer than the same time last year. The median wait time for second contact since referral for adults was 66 days, which is 55 days less than last year.
Figure seven
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) (July 2025)
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At the end of July 2025, there were 440 OAPs in adult acute beds, which is 38% higher than last year.