Neurodivergence is not ‘over-diagnosed’ – it is under-recognised

Neurodivergent Labour is disappointed that the Labour government has chosen to review whether neurodivergence and mental health conditions are ‘over-diagnosed’ rather than taking action to reduce waiting lists, increase support and remove barriers.

The announcement of this review comes just one month after the ADHD Taskforce reported that ADHD is under-diagnosed. Why is the government looking for a second opinion?!

The narrative that neurodivergence is over-diagnosed undermines the very real struggles that many neurodivergent people face, and represents a refusal to accept that humanity is neurologically diverse. And yet the review is to be led by people who have already publicly aligned themselves with this mistaken view.

We would like to see a greater recognition of neurodivergence, with neurodivergent brain types seen as minority neurotypes rather than disorders.

And we would like to see our government work with neurodivergent people to identify and remove the barriers that cause us difficulty and distress.