The move comes amid soaring demand with the number of people waiting for an assessment up 13-fold over the last five years and the number of people with a common mental health condition increasing from 15.5% to almost a quarter (22.6%) between 1993 and 2023-24.

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 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 and will be led by Professor Peter Fonagy, a clinical psychologist and national clinical advisor on Children and Young People's Mental Health. 

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.

An advisory working group of leading academics, clinicians, epidemiological experts, charities and people with lived experience will be appointed to shape recommendations and scrutinise the evidence.