London, December 06, 2025
A majority of UK general practitioners are warning that ordinary life stress and emotional challenges are increasingly being misclassified as mental health disorders, contributing to over-diagnosis and over-treatment in primary care, according to a recent report by the Centre for Social Justice.
UK GPs caution that the common experience of distress is being medicalised as mental illness, blurring the crucial distinction between normal emotional reactions and clinical disorders requiring treatment. This growing trend raises concerns about the accuracy and appropriateness of mental health diagnoses across the NHS.
An overwhelming 84% of GPs surveyed believe that normal human experiences such as grief, stress, and sadness should not be regarded as mental health problems. Furthermore, 83% of these practitioners express unease that antidepressants are prescribed too readily, often without considering non-medical alternatives like talking therapies or social prescribing. Supporting this vantage, 65% of the British public agree that NHS mental health support should prioritise addressing the root causes of distress through therapy and social aid rather than relying primarily on medication. Only 12% of the public favour drug-based interventions as the main treatment approach.
This data emerges from the Change the Prescription report, which highlights a societal shift towards “medicalising” normal human suffering and calls for a realignment of mental health care principles. A critical issue is the lack of a consistent and formal definition of “mental health” within NHS trusts; only 3 out of 49 English trusts have adopted one. The absence of clarity creates risks of over-diagnosis leading to misdirected treatments and potential harm—distracting resources from those with serious mental illnesses who require urgent and expert care.
Several systemic pressures encourage GPs to make swift diagnoses and prescribe medication. These include time constraints inherent in short appointments, patient expectations for diagnosis or medication, defensive medical practices to avoid complaints, and concerns over potential pharmaceutical influence that may broaden diagnostic criteria to increase drug sales.
The debate is particularly acute surrounding rising diagnoses of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum conditions, especially among children and young people. Critics warn that private sector providers may be facilitating over-diagnosis. Prominent figures like Baroness Watkins and Health Secretary Wes Streeting have questioned the accuracy of some child and adolescent mental health diagnoses. In response, Streeting has initiated a national review to assess the prevalence of mental illness and neurodivergence and to determine if over-diagnosis is occurring.
The consequences for the NHS are significant. Child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) are overwhelmed, with 70% of GP referrals reportedly rejected. Lengthy waiting lists exacerbate delays for patients with severe conditions such as eating disorders, self-harm, and psychosis, while resources are stretched thin managing less severe or incorrectly labeled cases.
Health experts and GPs advocate for a more nuanced and tiered approach to mental health care. This model would extend beyond a binary classification of illness versus wellness and instead provide personalized support levels — ranging from community and school-based interventions to specialist clinical treatment. Emphasizing early intervention, social prescribing, and accessible talking therapies could help reduce the reliance on medication and avoid the pitfalls of over-diagnosis.
The overarching challenge lies in refining clear definitions of mental health, improving equitable access to appropriate care, and ensuring that the NHS can prioritize those in urgent need without being overwhelmed by the growing tide of over-diagnosis and under-resourcing. As practitioners underscore: life’s stresses, while difficult, are not illnesses.