Hundreds of GPs across England say mental health problems are being over-diagnosed, with society tending to medicalise everyday life stress. In a BBC survey, 752 GPs who responded to a questionnaire reported that 442 viewed over-diagnosis as a concern, while 81 felt it was under-diagnosed. The panel warned that life’s pressures are too often cast as illness, a view summed up by a doctor who said, “Life being stressful is not an illness.” Another lamented that “a broken heart or grief is painful and normal, and we have to learn to cope.” Beyond labels, doctors stressed access barriers: many reported that good-quality mental health help is rarely or never available in their area, with 508 saying help is scarce and 640 worrying about young patients’ needs.
The debate sits at the intersection of rising demand and finite resources. Earlier this year, the Health Secretary ordered an independent review into why demand for mental health, ADHD and autism services is climbing and where gaps in support lie. The scale of the issue is underscored by NHS figures: about 1 in 5 adults report a common mental health condition, rising to 1 in 4 among 16- to 24-year-olds. The BBC’s sample estimates that most doctors have seen mental health work take more time, driven by patients who cannot access timely care, social determinants such as housing and finances, and the perception that many people seek diagnoses for ordinary life challenges.
Yet the picture is not one-note. Some clinicians worry that under-diagnosis is the real danger, arguing that patients deserve acceptance, support, and accurate assessment. The panel depicts a delicate balance: “We must be careful, as a society, not to medicalise the full range of normal feelings and behaviours,” said Professor Victoria Tzortziou Brown, chair of the Royal College of GPs, “but equally we must avoid dismissing genuine mental health concerns as ‘over-diagnosis.’” The debate extends to prescribing practices; many GPs report occasionally turning to antidepressants to bridge gaps when timely access to talking therapies is blocked, a practice they acknowledge may be short-term but sometimes necessary.
ADHD looms large in the context, with estimates of roughly 2.5 million people in England affected, including many without a formal diagnosis. Some NHS services have closed to new patients due to demand, prompting anger and frustration among patients and families who struggle to find timely care. Mind’s Minesh Patel cautions against oversimplified conclusions, noting that while there is no credible evidence that mental health problems are universally over-diagnosed, the overall prevalence of mental health issues has clearly risen. The independent review promises to weigh all evidence and produce recommendations that could reshape how society supports mental health going forward.
What the data mean in practice The BBC study highlights a tension between clinical judgment and system-level constraints. For doctors, the aim is to recognise genuine distress while avoiding unnecessary labels, and to connect patients with effective, timely help. For policymakers, the task is to align resources with need, reduce barriers to access, and safeguard the care of those with severe or persistent conditions, while acknowledging that not all distress warrants a medical diagnosis.