Independent review into mental health conditions, ADHD and autism: final report (9 October 2026)

Summary

This report sets out the findings and recommendations of an independent review into prevalence and support for mental health conditions, ADHD and autism. The review, chaired by leading clinical psychologist Professor Peter Fonagy with the support of vice chairs Professor Sir Simon Wessely and Professor Gillian Baird, found that mental distress has increased substantially among children and young people. The findings show this has been driven by several factors, including social media, financial insecurity, increased uncertainty about the future, poorer sleep, and reduced feelings of connection and belonging. While referrals and diagnoses for ADHD and autism have risen significantly, the review found that population-level prevalence of these conditions appears broadly stable.

Content

The report makes ten recommendations as a connected programme of reform:

1. Tackle the drivers of mental distress and ill health through an ambitious approach to prevention, early intervention and improving public mental health and wellbeing.

2. Move from a ‘diagnosis-dependent’ to a ‘needs-led plus diagnosis’ system by developing a digitally and AI-enabled shared needs assessment and prioritisation framework for people with mental health and neurodevelopmental needs.

3. Commission and deliver integrated, digitally-enabled mental health and neurodevelopmental assessment and support that is age-appropriate and responds to the needs of local communities.

4. Close treatment gaps while protecting, strengthening and investing in specialist services to improve access and outcomes for those with the most severe, complex and enduring needs, including specialist support delivered in the community, and crisis and inpatient services.

5. Overhaul the commissioning, funding, oversight and regulation of mental health and neurodevelopmental services, including making all diagnostic assessments for ADHD and autism Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulated activity and banning direct-to-public advertising of NHS-funded ADHD and autism assessments.

6. Build capacity and capability across the multidisciplinary workforce to deliver more integrated mental health and neurodevelopmental support, backed by investment in training, supervision and career development.

7. Take an ambitious approach to scaling up safe digital and AI-enabled tools within a digitally enabled and integrated care pathway, while sharing and using data to improve quality of care, efficiency and productivity.

8. Improve data collection and evaluation for mental disorders, ADHD and autism, including through regular population prevalence studies, and update NICE guidelines to strengthen the evidence-base for policy development and implementation.

9. Commission a national public information and education campaign to help people better understand, support and accommodate neurodevelopmental conditions and manage their mental health, supported by a trusted digital platform providing evidence-based information, tools and support without requiring a diagnosis.

10. Publish a cross-government mental health strategy this year setting out how this report’s recommendations will be implemented through immediate actions in the next 12 to 24 months and a 10-year reform plan.