Hundreds of general practitioners across England have raised significant concerns that mental health conditions are being over diagnosed within the NHS, suggesting society is increasingly 'over-medicalising' the normal emotional strains of daily life.
Doctors Voice Concerns Over Medicalising Normal Life
A major investigation by the BBC, which surveyed 752 experienced GPs, found that nearly 60% – equivalent to 442 doctors – believe over diagnosis is a genuine problem. A common theme in their responses was the belief that 'life being stressful is not an illness'. Many practitioners warned that attaching clinical labels like anxiety or depression to everyday emotional difficulties risks diverting precious NHS resources away from patients with the most severe and complex needs.
One GP commented that as a society we have forgotten that life can be inherently tough, noting that experiences like grief or a broken heart, while painful, are normal and require coping strategies rather than necessarily a medical diagnosis. Another warned that the trend to 'over medicalise life and emotional difficulties' has tangible consequences for service provision.
Pressure to Prescribe and Systemic Shortfalls
Despite their concerns, GPs admitted to 'routinely' prescribing medication, primarily antidepressants, because they fear patients cannot access alternative support like talking therapies quickly enough. One doctor confessed to regularly 'reaching for antidepressants' despite knowing their benefits might be short-term and not prevent recurrence.
Dr Adrian Hayter, Medical Director for Clinical Policy at the Royal College of General Practitioners, acknowledged the pressure from some patients to receive a diagnosis and prescription simply to conclude a consultation. He emphasised the importance of GPs holding onto their professional values to ensure a proper diagnosis and appropriate care pathway is established.
The survey highlighted stark systemic issues: 67% of responding GPs (508 doctors) stated that good quality mental health support for adults in their area was rarely or never available. This shortage is felt acutely for young people, with 85% of GPs (640 doctors) worried about securing help for younger patients. Doctors identified 19-34 year olds as the age group needing the most support, with some noting young adults appear 'less resilient since Covid' and more focused on obtaining a diagnosis than developing coping mechanisms.
National Context and Political Response
These findings emerge against a backdrop of a significant mental health crisis in England. Official surveys indicate one in five adults reports a common condition like anxiety or depression, a figure rising to one in four among 16-24 year olds. It is also estimated that 2.5 million people in England have neurodevelopmental conditions like ADHD, with some NHS services now closed to new referrals due to overwhelming demand.
The report was published the same week Health Secretary Wes Streeting launched an independent review into mental health, ADHD, and autism services. Mr Streeting had previously stated that mental health conditions were over-diagnosed, leading to too many people being 'written off', though he later said those comments were 'divisive' and failed to capture the problem's complexity.
Professor Victoria Tzortziou Brown, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, spoke of the 'difficult balance' for doctors. 'We must be careful, as a society, not to medicalise the full range of normal feelings and behaviours and ensure GPs are not pressured into making diagnoses that conflict with their clinical judgement,' she said. 'But equally we must avoid dismissing genuine mental health concerns as 'over-diagnosis' which risks discouraging people from seeking help.'
While the vast majority of GPs pointed to over diagnosis, a minority (81 out of 752) felt mental health problems were still under diagnosed. The investigation paints a picture of a system under immense strain, with GPs spending more time on mental health than ever before, yet often feeling compelled to prescribe medication as the only readily available intervention.
