Health Secretary Wes Streeting is set to launch an independent review into the growing demand for mental health, ADHD and autism services in England.
Streeting has previously suggested that mental disorders are being “overdiagnosed”. The government says increased pressure on the system has led to long waits for people in urgent need of help.
He said: “We need to look at this through a strictly clinical lens to gain evidence-based understanding… This is the only way to ensure that everyone has timely access to an accurate diagnosis and effective support.”
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the review is being launched alongside £688 million in additional funding, but it also comes as ministers try to tackle the growing social care bill.
Earlier this year the government was forced to make concessions on planned cuts to disability benefits, including for people with mental health problems, after he faced a major backlash from more than 100 Labor Party members.
But on Monday the Prime Minister promised renewed efforts to reform the social security system, who was said to have “trapped people into poverty” and “written off young people as too sick to work”.
The results of the new review, led by clinical psychologist Professor Peter Fonagy, will be published in summer 2026.
Professor Fonagy said the aim was to “carefully test assumptions and listen carefully to those most affected to ensure our recommendations are both fair and truly helpful”.
As of March this year, around four million working-age adults in England and Wales were claiming disability or disability benefits – up from almost three million in 2019. according to research from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS).
The DHSC said increased pressure on the NHS “means that for too long, people with acute needs have faced long waits, been forced into overstretched services, experienced inequalities in care and felt abandoned when support was needed most.”
Mental health charity Mind welcomed the government's announcement and said it would contribute to the research.
“This is a huge opportunity to truly understand what is driving rising rates of mental illness, particularly among our young people,” said CEO Dr Sarah Hughes.
President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists Dr Lade Smith called for the review to “carefully identify gaps in care”, taking into account the “many complex reasons” why people seek help.
The National Autistic Society said: “We need urgent action because while we are now seeing the number of people wanting to be tested stabilizing, average waiting times are rising rapidly.”
