09/10/2026
There will be a lot of headlines today about the Independent Review into mental health conditions, ADHD and autism.
First, this: you, your family and your children are not the problem. The review says so too.
We'd like to take you back to what it actually says, and what we see every day.
It says support should not have to wait for a diagnosis. We agree. It also says diagnosis remains essential and must be protected. Both can be true: assessment stays, and help starts earlier, based on need.
For many families, it looks like this:
- A child who holds it together at school, then finds home much harder
- Mornings that take a long time
- Handwriting and organisation that don't match their ability
- Big feelings that are hard to regulate
These needs are real with or without a diagnosis. And it isn't only the child who feels them. Parents, loved ones and schools feel them too.
The review does not find that overdiagnosis is happening at scale, though it says that risk needs watching. It also says the people coming forward are no less affected than before. What it points to is a system where a diagnosis has been the main route to support.
It sets out neighbourhood teams for children and young people, across health, education and social care. As that work moves forward, we'd like to see:
- Support based on need
- Occupational therapy in those teams and in schools, where sensory and regulation needs often show up
- Clear pathways, and support while families wait
- Investment in training and the workforce
Today may feel heavy. We're reading the detail, we're listening, and we'll keep speaking up for children's needs.
Regulation before learning. Small hinges open wide doors.
