A bold concern is rising: the way mental health diagnoses are used in benefit claims is under close scrutiny, and the health secretary is pushing for a formal review. Wes Streeting has ordered a clinical evaluation of how mental health conditions—such as depression, autism, and ADHD—are diagnosed, amid a sharp uptick in sickness benefit applications linked to these conditions, according to reports.
The Times notes that Streeting is worried normal emotions may be getting over-pathologised, as the government grapples with roughly 4.4 million working-age people currently claiming sickness or incapacity benefits. The total has climbed by about 1.2 million since 2019, and there has been a notable surge in long-term sickness absence among 16- to 34-year-olds attributed to mental health issues within the same period.
Speaking to the Times, Streeting said he has seen firsthand how devastating poor mental health, ADHD, or autism can be for people who struggle to obtain a diagnosis or the appropriate support. He emphasized the need to approach the matter through a clinical lens to build an evidence-based understanding of what is known, what remains uncertain, and what these trends reveal about mental health services, autism resources, and ADHD care. The goal, he stated, is to ensure timely access to accurate diagnoses and effective support for all.
The review, anticipated to begin on Thursday, will be led by Professor Peter Fonagy, a clinical psychologist at University College London who specializes in child mental health. He will be supported as vice-chair by Sir Simon Wessely, the former president of the Royal College of Psychiatry. Fonagy described the plan to the Times: the group will carefully weigh evidence from research, lived experiences, and frontline clinicians in mental health, autism, and ADHD services to understand what is driving increasing demand in a grounded way.
This initiative aligns with ongoing efforts to address the ballooning welfare bill. Earlier this year, ministers withdrew proposed disability benefits reforms, including those affecting people with mental health conditions, after facing opposition from backbench Labour MPs. On Monday, Keir Starmer signaled a renewed push on welfare reform, arguing that the system should be transformed and acknowledging that the welfare state can trap people not only in poverty but also out of work.
PA Media contributed to this report.
