London, December 09, 2025
General practitioners (GPs) across England have voiced concern over the rising trend of mental health over-diagnosis, warning that normal life stress is increasingly being medicalised as a disorder, with potential negative impacts on healthcare resources and patient care. This issue has come to light following a recent BBC survey involving 752 GPs.
GP Concerns on Over-Diagnosis
In the BBC survey, 442 out of 752 GPs expressed apprehension that everyday stressors—such as looming work deadlines or changes in personal relationships—are frequently being mistaken for clinical mental health conditions. Many GPs argue that life being stressful is not an illness and fear that routine societal pressures are being incorrectly labelled as pathological.
This medicalisation trend has raised alarms about the strain on healthcare services. GPs warn that categorising normal stress as a disorder diverts valuable resources away from those with serious mental health issues. It also risks overwhelming already burdened mental health services.
Implications for Patients and Healthcare Services
Over-diagnosis and consequent over-treatment may expose patients to stigma and unnecessary dependence on medications. Multiple GPs reported frequently prescribing antidepressants as an expedient solution, sometimes due to limited access to timely psychological therapies and non-pharmaceutical treatments. Although well-intentioned, such prescribing may offer only short-term relief and does not address underlying social or environmental stressors.
Conversely, some practitioners highlight a more complex diagnostic landscape. While many see over-diagnosis as a critical problem, others note persistent under-diagnosis of genuine mental illness, underscoring the delicate balance required in mental health assessment.
Divergent Perspectives from Mental Health Advocates
Mental health organizations dispute claims of widespread over-diagnosis. Minesh Patel, spokesperson for the charity Mind, has stated there is “no credible evidence” that normal stress is being routinely medicalised. This highlights an ongoing debate between frontline clinicians and mental health advocates about diagnostic thresholds and service provision.
Expert Views on Distinguishing Stress from Disorder
Healthcare experts emphasize that stress, in itself, is not a disorder. Intervention is deemed appropriate only when stress is severe, persistent, and significantly impairs daily functioning. The challenge lies in differentiating between typical life pressures and mental health conditions requiring clinical treatment.
The debate encapsulates a growing tension within the healthcare system: how to avoid mislabelling normal emotional experiences as illness without missing those in need of urgent care. It also brings to focus systemic issues such as mental health service capacity and diagnostic criteria refinement.
As pressures on healthcare continue to mount, addressing these concerns with nuanced policy and clinical approaches will be essential to optimize patient outcomes and protect the integrity of mental health services.