Autism, ADHD and mental health review: What you need to know — SkimNews
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- The 400-page review commissioned by Wes Streeting found over-diagnosis is a concern for ADHD and autism, with more than 4% of 6-17-year-olds diagnosed with autism versus an estimated true prevalence of 1-2%; reviewers cautioned the data is nine years old and stopped short of saying over-diagnosis is happening 'at scale.'
- Prof Peter Fonagy, the review's chair, said Streeting was 'completely wrong' about over-diagnosis in mental health, noting one in four 16-24-year-olds now experience mental distress — up from one in six 30 years ago, driven by anxiety, depression, self-harm and eating disorders rather than severe mental illness.
- Young people diagnosed with ADHD before age 17 are four times more likely to be NEET (not in education, employment or training) than peers, with around a third of NEET 16-24-year-olds citing mental health or autism as a factor in their situation.
- NHS waiting lists already include 900,000 people awaiting ADHD or autism assessments — 90% of them for more than three months — while a third of young people referred to mental health services wait over a year.
- Reviewers recommended reassessing waiting lists to prioritise need rather than first-come-first-served, tightening regulation of non-NHS providers (which handle half of ADHD and a third of autism assessments), and banning direct-to-public advertising of assessments.
- The government is expected to set out further action in a forthcoming mental health strategy by the end of the year; the review calls for implementation over the next 12-24 months.
Why it matters: The review divides sharply on its central question, embracing Streeting's over-diagnosis fears for ADHD and autism while flatly rejecting them for mental health — a split that will shape how the NHS routes funding, regulates private assessment firms, and reprioritises its 900,000-strong waiting list over the next two years.
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