What’s important? Help shape the review
On the 4th December 2025 the Government launched its’ review into mental health, ADHD and autism services. One of the primary drivers for the review is a concern from government about the increase in demand for mental health, ADHD and autism services.
What do we know about the review?
The terms of reference for the review are published on the government’s website and state that the review will:
- Explore why people are increasingly turning to the NHS and other services for support, the role of diagnosis in accessing help, and how appropriate current interventions are.
- Recommend practical, evidence-based approaches to prevention and early intervention and will be led by Professor Peter Fonagy, a clinical psychologist and National Clinical Advisor on Children and Young People’s Mental Health.
- Inform the government’s 10 Year Health Plan commitment to tackle the mental health crisis in adults and children (findings will be published in the Summer 2026).
- Appoint an advisory working group of leading academics, clinicians, epidemiological experts, charities and people with lived experience to directly shape the recommendations and scrutinise the evidence.
What do we know about Autism, ADHD and access to mental health support? (the research, evidence base and feedback from autistic people, families and services)
Individual and in some cases small teams of practitioners from up to 50% of NHS Trusts across the UK have engaged in one of the Autism and Mental Health Training courses provided by NCAMH. Here are some of the themes that have emerged from the training:
“We aren’t commissioned to provide mental health support services to autistic people, but we have so many autistic and neurodivergent young people that are now being referred. What we need is a clear autism and mental health pathway so we can get on with providing early support and make the adjustments that would be most helpful to our clients.”
(CAMHS Practitioner)
- Adult and CAMHS teams across the UK report that in some cases up to 60% of referrals to their services may involve autistic or neurodivergent people seeking mental health support.
- Many mental health services indicate that they are not commissioned to provide mental health support, with no clear autism/ADHD mental health pathway in place. Many would welcome a change to the commissioning parameters so that they could make the necessary adjustments to their services and provide earlier supports (regardless of an autism/ADHD diagnosis).
- Practitioners on the courses have said that many of the resources shared throughout the training have been helpful to all their clients (regardless of diagnosis). Improving access to evidence-based resources is making a real difference to the way in which services are being provided and strengthening the way they advocate for support and adjustments across different settings (e.g. in the school environment).
- Where there isn’t an autism and mental health pathway in place autistic people are often referred to Learning Disability (LD) Services. Many LD services indicate that they are not equipped to meet the co-occurring mental health support needs that autistic people may experience.
- Autistic people often find themselves caught between two services, with neither feeling sufficiently confident in supporting their mental health needs, often leading to discharge with no actual support in place. This only serves to exacerbate the mental health condition which may then lead to a crisis.
- Autistic people continue to be over-represented in in-patient units, hospitals and large institutional, residential or secure settings. Better access to earlier mental health support in the community and support for families could significantly reduce these numbers alongside the cost to the taxpayer. The unit cost of a hospital admission is far more expensive than community based outpatient mental health support.
What do we know from the research and from listening to autistic and neurodivergent people?
I wish that I had earlier access to the right support. So many of the services I’ve been referred to don’t know how to support me. I’m on a wait list for specialist mental health services, don’t know when I will be seen. Hospitals are not a safe place for me because of my sensory support needs, I felt like killing myself last time I was there. Why can’t there be more trained staff in the community? I’m still waiting, my family are supporting me as best they can.”
(Autistic female, aged 22).
- Autistic people report higher rates of co-occurring mental health conditions when compared to their neurotypical peers.
- Research indicates that up to 76% of autistic people experience poor mental health in their lifetime, with 40% experiencing more than one mental health condition.
- More recent research into the types of mental health conditions experienced by autistic and neurodivergent people shows that 84% report high anxiety, 35% of those with Anorexia Nervosa meet the autism criteria, 37% experience OCD with 66% reporting that they have considered suicide (compared to 17% of the population).
- Autistic people are more likely to experience trauma in their lifetime due to lack of access to adjustments or early support. Undiagnosed autistic girls and women are at increased risk of sexual assault, grooming and interpersonal abuse.
- Undiagnosed and diagnosed autistic people may use masking and camouflaging to cope with differences in communication, information processing and thinking styles and to feel more accepted by their peers. Autistic people often report feeling left out, misunderstood or bullied in school, university, employment and social settings.
- Autistic people have said they do want to work but often don’t get past recruitment processes due to lack of awareness, training or adjustments.
- Many autistic people report seeking acceptance in on-line communities where they may be vulnerable and exposed to abuse or extreme views. Some of these may lead to increased risk of suicide and lack of safety.
- Families of autistic and neurodivergent children, young people and adults are often the main source of support, when there is limited access to mental health services. Having access to training and resources at NCAMH has been described as a lifeline.
- Schools are often described as difficult spaces. Parents are driven to seeking out an autism diagnosis to gain access to the types of neuro-affirmative adjustments that might enable them to remain in education via an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP). The EHCP process is described as traumatic. If schools made those adjustments automatically perhaps the pressure to seek a diagnosis for an EHCP would reduce? How can schools be supported to mainstream adjustments that make school a safe place for all children and young people?
The wider debate
Many of the above themes have also emerged as part of the BBC’s recent focus on the Governments’ Mental Health Review.
To listen to the BBC World at One programme on “Are ADHD and mental health conditions being over diagnosed?” please click on the link below:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002mz5v
To listen to the BBC Radio 4 programme, “Any Questions Any Answers.” With a focus on the mental health review please click the link below:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0mm01c8
What are your experiences and views?
The National Centre for Autism and Mental Health are keen to be part of the mental health review and to collate feedback from those who have been on our courses, practitioners and from autistic and neurodivergent people who experience co-occurring mental health support needs (including their families/carers).
How can the government’s mental health review improve outcomes for autistic and neurodivergent people?
Please share your views and experiences by e-mailing hello@ncamh.co.uk
To find out more about our online certified autism courses please click here.