The UK government has launched an independent review into the surging demand for mental health, ADHD, and autism services—a move that comes amid mounting concerns over potential overdiagnosis and the spiraling cost of welfare benefits. Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced the review in early December 2025, emphasizing the need to examine the issue through a “strictly clinical lens” to ensure that both diagnoses and support are grounded in robust evidence.
According to BBC, the review will be spearheaded by Professor Peter Fonagy, a leading clinical psychologist and national clinical adviser on children and young people’s mental health. The initiative will bring together academics, doctors, epidemiological experts, charities, and patients to scrutinize the rising rates of diagnosis, the quality and accessibility of support, and the widening inequalities in service provision. The findings are scheduled for publication in summer 2026.
The backdrop for this review is stark. Figures from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, cited by Sky News, reveal that mental health or behavioral conditions now account for more than half of the increase in disability benefit claims among working-age adults since the COVID-19 pandemic. To put it in numbers, 1.3 million people—44% of all disability benefit claimants—now cite mental health or behavioral conditions as their primary reason for claiming. This marks a dramatic shift from previous decades and is exerting unprecedented pressure on the NHS and the welfare system.
The statistics paint a sobering picture. In 1993, 15.5% of adults aged 16 to 64 had a common mental health condition. By 2023-24, that figure had climbed to 22.6%, and NHS data also shows that 14% of adults now report ADHD symptoms—up from 8% in 2007. Yet, as BBC points out, experts estimate that only around 5% of adults have clinically diagnosable ADHD, raising questions about the accuracy of current diagnostic trends.
The demand for autism assessments has also skyrocketed. The Department of Health reported that, as of September 2025, 13 times more people were waiting for an autism assessment compared to April 2019. This surge has led to long waits for therapy and assessments, with many individuals and families feeling abandoned by overstretched services.
Wes Streeting, reflecting on his earlier comments about overdiagnosis—remarks he later described as “foot-in-mouth syndrome”—stressed the complexity of the issue. “I know from personal experience how devastating it can be for people who face poor mental health, have ADHD or autism, and can’t get a diagnosis or the right support,” Streeting told Sky News. “We must look at this through a strictly clinical lens to get an evidence-based understanding of what we know, what we don’t know, and what these patterns tell us about our mental health system, autism and ADHD services. That’s the only way we can ensure everyone gets timely access to accurate diagnosis and effective support.”
Professor Fonagy, who will lead the review, echoed the need for a rigorous approach. “This review will only be worthwhile if it is built on solid ground. We will examine the evidence with care—from research, from people with lived experience, and from clinicians working at the front line of mental health, autism and ADHD services—to understand, in a grounded way, what is driving rising demand. My aim is to test assumptions rigorously and listen closely to those most affected, so that our recommendations are both honest and genuinely useful.”
The government has already committed £688 million in extra funding to hire 8,500 more mental health workers, expand NHS talking therapies, and increase the number of mental health emergency departments. Yet, as the Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged, the system remains stretched, with people facing long waits and significant disparities in care. “For too long, people with acute needs have faced long waits, had to navigate overstretched services, experienced inequalities in care and felt abandoned when support was needed most,” the department stated.
Personal stories, like that of 23-year-old student Jenny Tan, highlight the human toll of these delays. After waiting nearly two years for an anorexia diagnosis, Jenny told BBC, “I fought so hard for a diagnosis, it took years.” For her, the notion of overdiagnosis is almost laughable—a sentiment shared by many who struggle to access timely care.
The review is also set against a politically charged backdrop. Earlier in 2025, Labour’s leadership was forced to abandon plans to reform disability benefits after a revolt by backbench MPs. However, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has since signaled a renewed push for welfare reform, arguing that the current system “traps people, not just in poverty, but out of work.” Chancellor Rachel Reeves recently increased welfare spending by £16 billion a year, bringing the total forecast for benefits and pensions to £406 billion by the end of the decade.
Conservative voices have weighed in as well. Tory MP Stuart Andrew, the shadow health secretary, noted, “Anyone being honest can see that the current system is stretched beyond what it can safely sustain. A proper, clinical assessment of what is driving the rise is the right thing to do. Since the election there are already 225,000 more PIP claimants, with more than 100,000 new awards for psychiatric disorders. Without clear criteria and proper safeguards, demand will continue to outstrip capacity. This review must confront that honestly.”
The review has garnered cautious support from mental health charities and advocacy groups. Mark Rowland, chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation, called it “a key moment to understand how the social, economic and technological changes of the last decade have affected people’s mental health and how we best respond.” Dr. Sarah Hughes, chief executive of Mind, described the review as “a huge opportunity to really understand what is driving increasing levels of mental illness, especially among our young people. More people need help than services can see, people’s mental health deteriorates while they wait, and when people do get access to support it is not always appropriate to their needs. We also need to be tackling the social and economic factors that are helping to drive increased demand.”
Others, like Andy Bell of the Centre for Mental Health, caution against framing the issue solely as one of overdiagnosis. “I have seen no evidence whatsoever that either mental health problems or neurodiversity are being overdiagnosed. The likelihood is this is a real increase in mental distress,” he told the press, pointing to factors such as social media, the cost of living, and school pressures as contributors to rising mental health needs.
As the review proceeds, it aims to establish a clear baseline for diagnosis and define what quality care should look like in a rapidly changing landscape. With input from across the political spectrum, clinicians, and those with lived experience, the hope is that the findings will lead to practical, evidence-based recommendations that improve access, reduce inequalities, and ensure the sustainability of both the NHS and the welfare system.
The coming months will reveal whether this ambitious review can rise to the challenge and deliver the clarity and solutions that millions across the UK are desperately seeking.
