04/12/2025
Today we heard that the UK Government is launching commission into increased demand for ADHD and autism services - AKA the "overdiagnosis commission”.
Just months ago, the government received the extensive final report from the independent task force on ADHD, which concluded that the evidence overwhelmingly states that ADHD is significantly under-diagnosed, and that improved access to services is desperately needed. The evidence for years has indicated that early identification and intervention improves outcomes across health, social care, employment, prisons and education, generating long term savings. The decision so spend more money on another commission clearly highlights that they want to come up with a different answer because the truth is politically inconvenient in the short term.
Over-diagnosis is an excuse to point the finger back at people who need support…nothing new there.
“The idea that you can achieve overdiagnosis with an average wait of nearly a decade is just preposterous”
Meanwhile over 8 million people are prescribed anti-depressants with dubious outcomes, children continue to miss out on vital educational opportunities, and mental health spirals with often tragic consequences.
Worryingly, the media continues to circulate widespread misinformation that puts up further barriers to people accessing what little support is now available.
