The Growing Need for Mental Health Support for Young People in the UK. And why remote therapy is becoming an essential part of the solution

Across the UK, there has been a clear and sustained increase in the number of children and young people experiencing difficulties with their mental health.

In practice, this is showing up as anxiety, low mood, emotional dysregulation, school-based distress, identity challenges, and the ongoing impact of adverse or traumatic experiences. For many families, these difficulties are becoming more complex and more urgent.

At the same time, access to timely, appropriate support remains a significant challenge. Long waiting lists, stretched services, and limited specialist provisions mean that many young people are either waiting too long or not accessing the right support at all.

The gap between need and access is where alternative models of delivery, particularly remote therapy, have become increasingly important.

The Shift Towards Remote Clinical Support

Over the past few years, there has been a significant shift in how psychological support is delivered.

What began as a necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic has now developed into a well-established and clinically recognised way of working. Remote therapy is no longer seen as a temporary alternative, it is now a core part of how services are delivered across the UK.

From a clinical perspective, this shift has allowed services to become more responsive and more flexible.

It has also changed expectations. Families are now more open to accessing support remotely, and many young people actively prefer it.

Why Remote Therapy Works for Young People?

When delivered properly, remote therapy offers several clear benefits for children, young people, and families.

• Improved access to the right support

One of the biggest advantages is that geography is no longer a barrier. Families are not limited to local provision and can access clinicians with the right experience and specialisms while working around their already busy lives.

• Faster access to intervention

Remote delivery allows for significantly reduced waiting times. In many cases, support can begin within days rather than months - which is critical when difficulties are escalating.

• Increased engagement for young people

Many young people feel more comfortable engaging from their own environment. Being at home can reduce anxiety, support emotional regulation, and make it easier to begin the therapeutic process.

• Greater flexibility for families

Remote sessions reduce the practical challenges of travel, time off school, and disruption to family routines — making it more likely that support is consistent.

• Continuity of care

Online delivery allows therapy to continue even when circumstances change (for example, moves, school transitions, or changes in placement), which is particularly important for more vulnerable young people.

Maintaining Quality and Safety

The effectiveness of remote therapy depends on how it is delivered. For children and young people, this means ensuring that support is:

• Trauma-informed

• Developmentally appropriate

• Clinically led

• Grounded in relational safety

It also requires clear processes around screening, safeguarding, and ongoing review to ensure that remote therapy is suitable for everyone.

Done well, remote therapy can provide a safe, consistent, and meaningful space for young people to explore, regulate, and make sense of their experiences.

Introducing bMindful Psychology’s Online Therapy Offer

In response to this growing need, bMindful Psychology launched a dedicated online therapy service for young people aged 13–25 on Monday 18th May 2026.

The service has been designed to offer timely, specialist support without the delays often associated with traditional pathways.

Key features of the offer include:

• UK-wide access to qualified clinicians

• Same-day and next-day appointments

• A multi-disciplinary team of Psychologists, Psychotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Speech and Language Therapists.

• All clinicians registered with HCPC, BACP or UKCP

• A trauma-informed and neuro-affirming approach

• Support that is adapted to each young person’s developmental needs and readiness

We are offering two structured pathways:

• General Emotional Wellbeing Sessions (delivered by Psychotherapists)

• Complex Presentation Appointments (delivered by Psychologists)

This allows families and professionals to access the right level of support from the outset.

A More Responsive Way to Access Support

The aim of this service is simple: to make it easier for young people to access the right support at the right time.

By combining clinical expertise with a flexible delivery model, we are able to respond more quickly, reduce barriers to engagement, and provide support that fits around the realities of young people’s lives.

Final Thoughts

The demand for children and young people’s mental health support in the UK is not slowing down.

What is changing is how that support can be delivered.

Remote therapy is now an established, effective, and often preferred way of working - particularly when it is grounded in strong clinical practice.

For many young people, it offers something that has been difficult to access for too long: timely, appropriate, and genuinely accessible support.

Read more about bMindful's Remote Therapy Service and book an appointment today.

Every child is different, so we take time to understand what’s going on before recommending support. We also have a face-to-face local therapy services in Cheadle, Greater Manchester.