Rising diagnoses raise big questions—emotional health may hold the key to prevention.
| As you may have seen in the media, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has commissioned a review into the surge of mental health diagnoses in the UK, particularly concerning mental illness, autism, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/dec/03/wes-streeting-orders-review-of-mental-health-diagnoses-as-benefit-claims-soar). The review aims to determine whether normal emotional responses are being over-pathologised, as 4.4 million working-age individuals now claim sickness or incapacity benefits.
While the increase in diagnoses is clear, the underlying causes remain uncertain. Factors will include a genuine rise in cases, improved awareness of the conditions, and the medicalisation of everyday challenges. I suspect that there is no simple answer, and that the reality is a complex mixture of all these things. A recent BBC survey of 752 GPs found that 442 believe over-diagnosis to be a concern, with many noting that normal life stresses are often treated as medical conditions, (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2pvxdn9v4o). These GPs also highlighted the difficulty of accessing appropriate mental health support and that is why we are grateful that our friends at Mind, The Centre for Mental Health, The Mental Health Foundation to name but three charities, are doing incredible work in this area. At The Centre for Emotional Health, we recognise a significant gap in education and resources to help individuals manage the emotional ups and downs of daily life and to develop and maintain healthy relationships. That is why we researched and developed a model of emotional health comprised of seven assets or competencies. Each asset is important, but it is how they work together that makes for real impact. Having good emotional health supports us with how we feel, think, behave and interact with those around us. These skills and beliefs impact our quality of life as well as providing us with protective factors if we’re experiencing physical or mental health challenges.
Good emotional health does not equate to constant happiness. Experiencing sadness or anxiety in response to life events, such as losing a job or bereavement, is normal. We believe that having good emotional health is particularly helpful and resonant when times are tough. We cannot control everything that happens to us but our emotional health skills enable us to respond to situations in ways that are most appropriate and helpful to us. For instance, feeling anxious before an exam or interview is natural and can even enhance performance. Persistent anxiety, however, may require professional intervention. Research by Demos in its 2024 report “Strong Foundations – why everyone needs good emotional health and how to achieve it”, emphasises that good emotional health is the foundation of good mental health. Prevention is key. Rather than only treating those in crisis, we must equip individuals, families, and communities with emotional health skills to help them thrive and therefore reduce future diagnoses. Expanding access to quality mental health care remains essential but strengthening emotional health can significantly improve outcomes, reduce the burden on healthcare systems and empower individuals to manage everyday feelings. |
Written by Peter Leonard. Last updated: December 9, 2025