New view on mental health

[Finallylostit]

Read this today. This Doctor is refreshingly honest and a thought provoking perspective on the explosion in the mental health industry

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-14576559/REAL-cause-explosion-autism-depression-psychiatrist-DR-ALISTAIR-SANTHOUSE.html

@Finallylostit
You are referring us to an article in the Daily Mail.

Seriously??

The Daily Mail is a click-bait generator ... not a serious news source.

Get some proper peer-reviewed information and see what it says.

The mail is not a serious paper. Anything on there should be taken with a pinch of salt. I wouldn't even trust the football scores from it

It's a misogynistic pile of absolute trash.

I can’t open it. But I am interested in different perspectives - this is my next read:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/mar/12/the-age-of-diagnosis-by-suzanne-osullivan-review-do-no-harm

Autism and mental health issues are not the same. I was surprised to read a book review in the Times last week about a new title about over diagnosis of mental health problems but then went on to talk about ASD and ADHD. Having those conditions / brain developments is nothing to do with mental health as in depression, anxiety etc.

But they often co exist with mental health conditions.

I’m yet to see any high quality science which supports the idea of neurodiversity as we know it today.

What is it you mean exactly? My ds went through a private assessment of numerous and varied tests. The results showed he has what is deemed a "spiky" profile with vast differences in his various functions. It's that variance that causes many of his issues. If he was low scoring on every measure, he'd probably have an easier time if it in some ways but the different functions of his brain don't coordinate. There's plenty of neuroscience in this area..I believe the University of Durham have some of the leaders on the field if you wanted to read up.

Have you looked?

Dr Luke Beardon if you’re interested.

Yes, there is no hard science to suggest people have differently wired brains, or that there is a default brain type called ‘NT’.

Isnt that just because ND cant always be seen on brain scans, is that what you mean?

I think there was some work done to look at brain scan evidence and there was some thought that this was a way forward in terms of diagnosis but it hasnt proved to be the case at the moment

Its likely in time to come that may occur.

might be the daily fail but i hate overdiagnosing. And this is because one of my children had issues with sensitivities and the suggestions were like bonkers. I asked them: are you sure, what. My child does not have the problems you are suggesting. I am her mother and I am telling you what her symptoms are. You are telling me could be this but she does not have any of the issues you are telling me to assess for. Also we went for the exact specialist targetting her issues ONLY and with a single meeting or a page of advice, we resolved it. So overdiagnosis is a very real issue.

Yes, there is. I have a Master’s in ASD and have been a specialist for 25 years.

And even that was the case, people with partial ND have the choice to live diagnosed or not, especially if they are massively intelligent, self aware and know they have a choice in life and do not need to play their lives to someone elses tunes.

Because let's say everyone was that interested to label the kids and give the diagnoses. Why then the other thread about the fail of implementing the EHCPs properly and failing the kids. You just labelled them , the system, right? Make up your own minds what you want from society. People are not animals or monkeys.

I look forward to a time when ND can be diagnosed via a brain scan or a blood test etc to put the 'overdiagnosing' argument to bed once and for all!

Then can you please tell me how you are so certain that non speaking children with severe learning difficulties have exactly the same condition as somebody who functions very highly, has a prestigious career, family etc?

They also say this about transgender but I’m not convinced.

Well they often dont although may have comorbidities and conditions but there is huge consternation among professionals about this, since the diagnosis is now just ND or not.

I think it will change back again to recognise the differences between clients.

Well no there is no evidence at all about differences in brains with people who say they are transgender. Theres no such thing

Well I know several children who are completely non verbal and very disabled, and their sole diagnosis is ‘autism’. The same autism as apparently Bella Ramsey has. How are we so certain they have the same thing?

They would say there is as a few studies have found mild differences in a minority of affected people.. a bit like this.

Lots of things have a range. Down's Syndrome for example can range from being able to go to mainstream school and live independently, to having very limited speech and not being able to safely be alone at all. Same with depression, you can have it mildly and carry on with your day to day life, or be hospitalised. Or someone who breaks their leg and it's a simple break versus someone who's leg is so badly broken they need operations and an external frame.

Yes I agree. But like anything, diagnostic criteria, thresholds and descriptors do change over time so its likely to change.

I know parents of children as you describe who are furious about exactly what you say. It simply doesnt fit.

Thank you for posting this so clearly. People like @Wildflowers99 are prone to overly simplistic black and white thinking. Like pretty much everything else that is health related, neurodiversity is complex and varied. And that does not mean that it is overdiagnosed or doesn't exist - it just means that some people need additional help and others do not.