Why Is the Review Being Launched?

NHS figures show a sharp rise in reported mental health problems over the past two decades.

  • In 2023–24, 22.6% of adults aged 16–64 reported a mental health problem — up from 17.6% in 2007.
  • Around 14% of adults report ADHD symptoms, compared with 8% in 2007.
  • Experts estimate that only around 5% meet clinically diagnosable ADHD thresholds.

At the same time, disability and incapacity benefit claims among working-age adults have risen from almost three million in 2019 to around four million.

The government believes that some people may be being referred onto waiting lists unnecessarily — particularly where practical support, short-term therapy or social interventions might be more appropriate than a formal diagnosis.

However, the Department of Health and Social Care has stressed that this review is separate from welfare reform, despite broader political debate around disability benefits.

Streeting’s Clarification

Earlier this year, Streeting said mental health conditions were being over-diagnosed and that too many people were being “written off.”

Writing later in the Guardian, he admitted those remarks had “failed to capture the complexity” of the issue and described them as “foot-in-mouth syndrome.”

Announcing the review, he said:

“We must look at this through a strictly clinical lens to get an evidence-based understanding… That’s the only way we can ensure everyone gets timely access to accurate diagnosis and effective support.”

Pressure on Services

The review comes amid sustained strain on NHS mental health services.

The Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged that people with acute needs often face long waits, navigate overstretched services and experience inequalities in care.

London GP Professor Sir Sam Everington, president of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said GP workload for mental health cases has increased sharply.

He suggested there is pressure from social media for people to seek formal diagnoses and warned against assuming there is always a “silver bullet” solution in the form of medication.

But others strongly reject the idea of widespread over-diagnosis.

Jenny Tan, a 23-year-old who waited nearly two years for an anorexia diagnosis, said the concept of over-diagnosis was “a joke” in her case. By the time she received treatment, clinicians told her she was one of the most severe cases they had seen.

Mental health charity Mind welcomed the review, calling it an opportunity to understand rising mental illness, especially among young people.

The National Autistic Society warned that while assessment demand may be levelling off in some areas, waiting times are continuing to rise.

A Complex Balance

The review highlights a difficult balancing act:

  • Avoiding medicalising normal life stress
  • Ensuring genuine conditions are not dismissed
  • Reducing waiting lists
  • Providing earlier, practical support

There is broad consensus that NHS mental health services are struggling to meet current demand. The debate centres not on whether the system is under pressure — but why.

What This Means for Patients

For patients, the most immediate issue remains access.

Waiting times for ADHD assessments and talking therapies can stretch into months or years in some areas. Young people appear particularly affected.

Private Medical Insurance (PMI) policies vary in their mental health coverage. Some include psychiatric assessments and a capped number of therapy sessions for new conditions. However, pre-existing conditions are usually excluded, and long-term support may be limited.

Private cover does not replace NHS crisis care, but it can sometimes offer quicker access to assessments or therapy for new conditions.

👉 If you’d like to understand what mental health cover would look like for you, you can request a free, no-obligation quote.

In a system grappling with rising demand and ongoing review, clarity around your options can help you plan ahead.