An independent review launched by the UK’s health secretary and led by a UCL academic will examine how England’s health system currently delivers mental health, autism and ADHD services in order to help ensure children and adults can get the right support.
The review will be chaired by Professor Peter Fonagy OBE, Head of the UCL Division of Psychology and Language Sciences.
Last year, another independent investigation into the NHS found that demand for mental health, ADHD and autism services has risen, and many people who are autistic or have ADHD are struggling to access the right services and support. In 1993, 15.5% of 16 to 64-year-olds had a common mental health condition, compared to 22.6% in 2023-24. Meanwhile, 13 times more people were waiting for an autism assessment in September 2025 compared to April 2019.
UCL Professor Peter Fonagy, who is a clinical psychologist and National Clinical Advisor on Children and Young People’s Mental Health, said: "This review will only be worthwhile if it is built on solid ground.
"We will examine the evidence with care - from research, from people with lived experience, and from clinicians working at the frontline of mental health, autism and ADHD services - to understand, in a grounded way, what is driving rising demand.
"My aim is to test assumptions rigorously and listen closely to those most affected, so that our recommendations are both honest and genuinely useful.
"We owe it to children and families, young people and adults to provide government with advice that is proportionate, evidence-based, and capable of improving people’s lives."
UK Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said: "I know from personal experience how devastating it can be for people who face poor mental health, have ADHD or autism and can’t get a diagnosis or the right support. I also know, from speaking to clinicians, how the diagnosis of these conditions is sharply rising.
"We must look at this through a strictly clinical lens to get an evidence-based understanding of what we know, what we don’t know, and what these patterns tell us about our mental health system, autism and ADHD services. That’s the only way we can ensure everyone gets timely access to accurate diagnosis and effective support."
The independent review will look at rising demand for mental health, ADHD, and autism services and what is driving it.
The government announcement states that the increased burden on the NHS means that for too long, people with acute needs have faced long waits, had to navigate overstretched services, experienced inequalities in care and felt abandoned when support was needed most.
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.
It will recommend practical, evidence-based approaches to prevention and early intervention.
The findings, which will be published in summer 2026, will inform the government’s 10 Year Health Plan commitment to tackle the mental health crisis in adults and children.
The review will 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.
Department of Health and Social Care: Independent review into mental health conditions, ADHD and autism: terms of reference
- Professor Peter Fonagy
Chris Lane
/ +44 (0) 7717 728648
E: chris.lane [at] ucl.ac.uk
- University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT (0) 20 7679 2000