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In June 2025, London had 65,120 open referrals for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which surged to 112,570 by June 2026, marking a 72% increase. Nationwide, the number of people waiting for an ADHD assessment rose from 511,000 in June 2025 to 780,000 in June 2026. An independent review commissioned by the government warns of potential overdiagnosis and highlights that economic uncertainty and social media pressures contribute to rising mental health issues among young people.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-09,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In London, referrals for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) assessments have surged dramatically. In June 2025, 65,120 people in the capital had open referrals for ADHD, but by June 2026, this number had risen to 112,570, marking a 72% increase. Moreover, over 27,000 individuals have been waiting for their assessments for more than two years. In June 2026 alone, there were 37,105 new referrals to mental health services for possible ADHD assessment, up by a staggering 46.7% from the previous year.
The trend is not isolated to London; nationally in England, the number of people waiting for assessments grew from 511,000 in June 2025 to 780,000 by June 2026. A government review, commissioned by then-Health Secretary Wes Streeting, acknowledges that young people are indeed experiencing a genuine rise in mental health issues and emphasizes the need for better support systems.
NHS England estimates that between 3% to 4% of adults and about 5% of children and young people have ADHD. This surge has led to significant backlogs in the healthcare system, highlighting concerns about potential overdiagnosis while also recognizing genuine mental health needs among youth.
Written for “ADHD Overdiagnosis Review London” on 2026-10-09,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.25, but 1 quote(s) could not be found in the article and the other 1 are attributed speech rather than the article's own narration, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 68791: no verified evidence · logged 2026-10-09
In June 2025, 65,120 people in the capital had an open referral for ADHD - but that figure had soared 72% to 112,570 in June 2026.
asserted
figure → have → June
Over 27,000 of those on the list have been waiting for their assessment for more than two years.
However, in 2026, the number of new referrals has risen sharply, with 5,750 in June alone.
asserted
number → wait → June
Number of new referrals in London for ADHD assessment per month
Month | Number of referrals |
|---|---|
June 2025 | 3235 |
July 2025 | 3515 |
August 2025 | 2480 |
September 2025 | 3150 |
October 2025 | 5170 |
November 2025 | 3945 |
December 2025 | 3230 |
January 2026 | 3770 |
February 2026 | 4430 |
March 2026 | 4585 |
April 2026 | 3800 |
May 2026 | 4660 |
June 2026 | 5750 |
Numbers have also risen dramatically across the country - 511,000 in England were waiting for their assessment in June 2025, but that figure had grown to 780,000 by June 2026.
uncertain
figure → rise → June
37,105 new referrals were received to mental health services for a possible ADHD assessment in June 2026, an increase of a staggering 46.7% (11,815) from the same period the previous year.
asserted
referrals → receive → period
NHS England estimates that between 3 and 4% of adults and 5% of children and young people have ADHD.
asserted
% → estimate → ADHD
That equates to approximately 2,478,000 people in England, including those without a diagnosis.
asserted
That → equate → diagnosis
Of these an estimated 737,000 are children and young people - classed as being aged between five and 24.
asserted
737,000 → estimate → five
It comes as an official review has found there is a risk of people being over-diagnosed with ADHD and autism.
asserted
people → come → ADHD
A rise in diagnoses over the past 25 years means that cases now appear to be outstripping the expected number in the population for some younger age groups, according to experts.
uncertain
cases → mean → experts
The review, which was commissioned 10 months ago by then-health secretary Wes Streeting, says the rise in mental health problems that has been seen among young people is real and there needs to be better support in place.
asserted
that → commission → place
Prof Peter Fonagy, who led the independent review, told the BBC last month that the review "dismisses the idea of a snowflake generation" and insisted "it's harder to be young now"
asserted
it → lead → generation
Read More
He said: "Adults have let them down.
asserted
Adults → read → them
We're the first generation that probably collectively feels we had a better life than our children will have.
asserted
children → feel → life
"So, to the person who says it's a snowflake generation, just try living 24 hours as a 16-year-old."
asserted
it → say → old
Prof Fonagy added that both economic and employment uncertainty, along with the pressures of social media, have created a "very toxic" environment for young people.
asserted
uncertainty → add → people
Figures published last November showed that the number of 16 to 24-year-olds with a common mental health condition rose sharply from 17.5% in 2007 to 25.8% in 2024.
asserted
number → publish → 2024
He added that these "worsen the traits of ADHD and autism", so as awareness of these conditions has increased, it is not surprising that people are turning to diagnosis as “an explanation of what they feel".
asserted
they → add → what
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