December 6, 2025
Stress test or sick note?
'Life being stressful is not an illness' – GPS on mental health over-diagnosis
GPs say stress isn’t sickness; commenters split between “trust patients” and “stop labeling”
TLDR: BBC survey shows many GPs think normal stress is being labeled as illness, while services struggle and ADHD demand surges. The community is split: some say trust patients and stop gatekeeping; others argue labels are overused and tech-fueled burnout is muddying the line.
The BBC dropped a bomb: hundreds of family doctors (GPs) think we’re over-diagnosing mental health, with one saying, “Life being stressful is not an illness.” Cue instant internet fireworks. In the comments, the loudest camp shouted trust patients first—functionmouse warned, “you can’t tell the severity until they’re already dead,” and waved a quote from charity Mind claiming “no credible evidence” of over-diagnosis. Others clapped back with stop medicalising normal pain, echoing GPs who say labels like anxiety and depression turn everyday heartbreak into a prescription hunt and drain resources from severe cases.
Between the poles? A chorus of it’s complicated: Simplita reminded everyone the line between stress and illness isn’t obvious; nis0s split hairs between “stress” and “distress,” arguing systemic and personal harm aren’t the same. And then came the spicy tech take—oncallthrow blamed screens and modern life: “life is genuinely worse today… because of technology.”
Meanwhile, policy drama brews. The Health Secretary ordered a review into surging demand for ADHD, autism, and mental health services, while some NHS ADHD clinics have stopped taking new patients. Young adults (19–34) are spotlighted, with GPs saying post-Covid resilience is down. Commenters joked about a “Stress vs Distress flowchart” and “Diagnosis Bingo,” but the thread’s mood stayed raw: Is the NHS over-labeling—or just failing to help? Read the BBC report and Mind’s stance here
Key Points
- •BBC surveyed 5,000+ GPs in England; 752 responded, with 442 concerned about over-diagnosis of mental health problems and 81 citing under-diagnosis.
- •The Health Secretary ordered an independent review into rising demand for mental health, ADHD, and autism services and gaps in support.
- •GPs reported increased time spent on mental health, driven by poor access to specialist care, socio-economic pressures, and misinterpretation of normal stress.
- •NHS England data show one in five adults have a common mental health condition; for 16–24-year-olds it is one in four.
- •Some NHS ADHD services have closed to new patients due to high demand; patients report difficulty accessing proper care.