A youth mental health charity has urged the government to take action as more children and young people seek mental health services. According to new analysis, the number of young people referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) has increased by 76 percent since 2019. In 2022 alone, over 1.4 million young people turned to CAMHS, compared to 812,070 in 2019. However, many cases are still waiting to be reviewed. The charity also highlighted that for the second consecutive year, the number of young people referred to mental health services exceeded one million. Financial concerns and the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic were identified as key factors affecting young people’s mental well-being. The government recently concluded its call for evidence on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of major conditions that affect the population in England. The new Major Conditions Strategy, which combines mental health plans with plans for chronic health conditions, has replaced a 10-year mental health plan. The youth mental health charity criticized the shelving of the previous plan, emphasizing the need for long-term mental health support for young people. The charity called for the government to prioritize early intervention, properly fund mental health services, and decrease the number of young people requiring support. While the government announced a £113 million investment for research on major conditions, including mental health, organizations such as the Mental Health Foundation and Rethink Mental Illness expressed concern that the government’s focus on chronic conditions may overshadow the mental health needs of young people. The government is expected to release an interim report on its Major Conditions Strategy in the summer.