We can’t wait until children reach crisis point’: Sport In Mind calls on nation to move 100K to support young people’s mental health
Every year, around 200 children lose their lives to suicide. Now, as new figures reveal that children as young as six are increasingly reaching A&E with a mental health crisis, the leading mental health sports charity in England and Wales, Sport In Mind, is calling on the nation to get moving and help give children the support they need before they reach breaking point.
Sport In Mind works closely with the NHS to deliver free sport and physical activity programmes and has already supported more than 60,000 children, young people and adults through sport and physical activity, with 94% of participants reporting improved mental wellbeing after accessing its activities.
The charity is urging people across the UK to take part in its 100K Your Way Challenge, beginning on World Mental Health Day (10th October), and complete 100K in just 10 days, whether that’s walking, running, cycling, swimming, dancing or any combination of movement.
The campaign comes as analysis from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) revealed that 75,491 children and young people aged six to 17 attended A&E in England with a mental health concern in 2025, a 36% increase since 2019. Among children aged six to nine, attendances rose by an even more alarming 62%, from 3,870 to 6,269.
The figures have prompted renewed calls for greater investment in prevention and earlier mental health support, with experts warning that too many children are reaching crisis point before they can access the help they need.
For Sport In Mind, the answer starts much earlier. The charity believes that sport and physical activity can provide children and young people with more than just the physical benefits of being active. It can offer connection, confidence, routine, a sense of belonging and a supportive community, creating opportunities for children to talk, build relationships and access support before their mental health reaches crisis point.
Parents of Sport In Mind programme participants consistently report that sport or physical activity can have a ‘significant positive impact’ on a young person’s mental wellbeing. They also say that they have noticed a positive difference in their child’s mental wellbeing since they began taking part in sport or physical activity and felt sport gave their child access to a supportive community they could turn to when struggling with their mental health.
Founder and CEO of Sport In Mind, Neil Harris said: “We cannot wait until a child reaches crisis point before we decide they need support. Behind every statistic is a child, a family and a story. We believe sport can be part of changing that story.
“For some children, joining a football session, going for a run, learning a new skill or simply having somewhere safe to belong can be the first step towards feeling connected again. It can give them confidence, routine and people around them who notice when something isn’t right.
“That’s why we’re asking people across the country to move 100K with us this October. Every kilometre and every pound raised will help us reach more children and young people with the life-changing benefits of sport, and get them support before they reach crisis point.”
Challenge participants are encouraged to raise sponsorship to help Sport In Mind reach more young people. Just £54 will enable 10 young people to access the healing power of sport at a Sport In Mind session, providing a safe space to get active, connect with others and support their mental wellbeing.
The 100K Your Way Challenge will begin on World Mental Health Day, 10th October 2026, with participants challenged to cover 100K over 10 days in whatever way works for them. Participants can walk, run, cycle, swim, dance or mix up different activities, either taking on the challenge alone or joining friends, family or colleagues as a team.
For Sport In Mind, every kilometre represents more than distance. It is a step towards a future where children and young people have access to the support, connection and community they need before they reach crisis. To take part in the 100K Your Way Challenge, visit www.sportinmind.org/100k-your-way
For more information please contact: sportinmind@aspirepr.co.uk
About Sport In Mind: Sport in Mind is the UK’s pioneering mental health sports charity, working closely with the NHS to deliver free sport and physical activity programmes across three key strands: Adults, Mums & Babies, and Children and Young People. Since 2010, Sport in Mind has supported over 60,000 individuals, with 94% reporting improved well-being and 91% experiencing a boost in self-esteem as a direct result of participation. The charity is dedicated to making sport accessible to all, empowering people to overcome mental health challenges through movement, education, and community connection.
