Teachers warn pushy parents will exploit new ADHD school support as diagnoses continue to surge

From the Newshound archive · first published 10 October 2026 · last updated 11 October 2026.

A landmark 607-page government-commissioned review has found that an unprecedented number of children and young people are being diagnosed with ADHD unnecessarily, with experts warning the trend risks defining a generation by what they cannot do. Consultant neurologist Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan says social media has fuelled an obsession with medical labels, while the proportion of 16-to-24-year-olds meeting the criteria for a common mental disorder has surged from one in six to one in four. The review, led by Professor Peter Fonagy, calls for a fundamental shift to a needs-led system where pupils receive school support without needing a formal diagnosis. Britain's welfare system is also identified as fuelling demand for diagnoses.

Teachers warn pushy parents will exploit the new needs-led approach, leaving vulnerable children with less-engaged families to 'slip through the net'.

Dr O'Sullivan argues that while young people are genuinely suffering, unnecessary diagnosis harms them by attaching labels rather than addressing underlying distress.

Lucy Gallacher, 38, from Greenock spent thousands on private assessments for her two sons before receiving her own ADHD and autism diagnosis — calling the experience 'a shock but also a relief'.