Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Sep;30(3):305-307.
doi: 10.1111/camh.70019. Epub 2025 Jul 31.

Debate: Are we overpathologising young people's mental health? Research shows otherwise - mental health conditions are not being recognised or diagnosed in healthcare settings

Kapil Sayal  1 , Rachel Hiller  2
Affiliations

Debate: Are we overpathologising young people's mental health? Research shows otherwise - mental health conditions are not being recognised or diagnosed in healthcare settings

Kapil Sayal et al. Child Adolesc Ment Health. 2025 Sep.

Abstract

Over recent years, there have been increasing societal, political and media concerns in relation to the 'over-diagnosis' and 'self-diagnosis' of common mental health conditions or emotional disorders, such as depression and anxiety. Using two large research projects as illustrative examples, we highlight that there is a mismatch between concern about 'over-pathologising' young people's mental health and the recognition and diagnosis of emotional mental health conditions in health and care settings. Concerns around labelling risks us losing a shared understanding and language around mental health and mental health care, within services, between sectors, and for young people and families.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Prof. Sayal is an editor of ‘Child and Adolescent Mental Health’.

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Coughlan, B. , Mannes, J. , Marshall, N. , Morgan, T. , Ford, T. , Crozier‐Roche, F. , … & Duschinsky, R. (2024). Mental health needs of children and young people in England, 2016–2021: An epidemiological study, and comparison of young people who have received protective and care interventions and their peers. 10.31234/osf.io/dx8e7 - DOI
    1. McGuire, R. , Halligan, S.L. , Meiser‐Stedman, R. , Durbin, L. , & Hiller, R.M. (2022). Differences in the diagnosis and treatment decisions for children in care compared to their peers: An experimental study on post‐traumatic stress disorder. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 61, 1075–1088. - PMC - PubMed
    1. McGuire, R. , Meiser‐Stedman, R. , Smith, P. , Schmidt, D. , Bjornstad, G. , Bosworth, R. , … & Hiller, R.M. (2025). Access to best‐evidenced mental health support for care‐experienced young people: Learnings from the implementation of cognitive therapy for PTSD. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 64, 63–85. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Sayal, K. , Owen, V. , White, K. , Merrell, C. , Tymms, P. , & Taylor, E. (2010). Impact of early school‐based screening and intervention programs for ADHD on children's outcomes and access to services: Follow‐up of a school‐based trial at age 10 years. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 164, 462–469. - PubMed
    1. Sayal, K. , Wyatt, L. , Partlett, C. , Ewart, C. , Bhardwaj, A. , Dubicka, B. , … & Montgomery, A. (2025). The clinical and cost effectiveness of a STAndardised DIagnostic assessment for children and adolescents with emotional difficulties: The STADIA multi‐centre randomised controlled trial. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 66, 805–820. - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources