ADHD and autism could be at risk of overdiagnosis – so what needs to change?

A major independent review, commissioned by the government, debunks the so-called “snowflake” generation myth, concluding that the rise in mental health problems is “real”, with a “genuine” increase in need.

The proportion of 16 to 24-year-olds with a common mental disorder has increased from around one in six in 1993 to one in four in 2024, with young women now reporting the highest rates of any group.

Experts who contributed to the report conclude that “life has become harder” for younger people, with more financial insecurity, unemployment and scrutiny, intensified by social media, with fewer opportunities for rest and recovery.

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