"The increase in reported mental health problems and neurodevelopmental diagnoses, and services not keeping pace, reflect what many clinicians see every day people are in more distress and unable to access support. The suffering is not fake, nor is it a case of gen Z malingering. Patients are struggling with what were once ordinary demands of life: school, work, relationships and family, complicated by the aftermath of Covid, with blurred boundaries between home and work, and life lived increasingly on screens."
"In this context, ADHD or autism can become an explanatory framework for a complex constellation of neurobiological factors and psychosocial difficulties. A diagnosis can be clinically meaningful by reducing self-blame and shame that block people from seeking help, bringing those who might not otherwise attend services through the door, where professionals can identify differential diagnosis or address comorbidities. I hope this review will lead to a holistic understanding of neurodevelopmental diagnoses,"
Reported mental health problems and neurodevelopmental diagnoses among children and adolescents have increased while services have not kept pace with demand. Many clinicians observe increased distress and significant barriers to accessing support. The distress experienced by young people is genuine and not explained by malingering. Everyday demands such as school, work, relationships and family have become more challenging in the aftermath of Covid, with blurred home-work boundaries and increased screen time. ADHD and autism can serve as explanatory frameworks that reduce self-blame, facilitate access to services, and enable clinicians to identify differential diagnoses and comorbidities. A holistic, research-led, multi-agency strategy and greater investment in diagnostic aftercare are needed to manage demand and provide personalised support.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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