Wes Streeting orders review of mental health diagnoses as benefit claims soar

"I also know, from speaking to clinicians, how the diagnosis of these conditions is sharply rising. 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."

"We will examine the evidence with care from research, from people with lived experience and from clinicians working at the frontline of mental health, autism and ADHD services to understand, in a grounded way, what is driving rising demand."

The health secretary has ordered a clinical review to investigate sharply rising diagnoses of mental illness, autism and ADHD and their impact on sickness benefit claims. 4.4 million working-age people now claim sickness or incapacity benefit, an increase of 1.2 million since 2019, with rapid growth in long-term sickness among 16-to-34-year-olds for mental health conditions. The review will be led by Prof Peter Fonagy with Sir Simon Wessely as vice-chair and will use research, lived experience and frontline clinical evidence to determine drivers of demand, potential over-pathologisation and ways to ensure timely, accurate diagnosis and effective support.

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