Lord Davies of Brixton (Lab)

There is real concern that some mental health conditions are being diagnosed too broadly, and it is worth giving the matter a serious discussion, so we owe our thanks to the noble Baroness, Lady Maclean, for raising the issue this evening. But that concern should never become a barrier for someone who is struggling and prevent them seeking the help that they require. As my noble friend Lady Nargund explained, there are pressures on young people today and, from my perspective, it is tougher. Overdiagnosis is a systemic issue. It is something that clinicians, researchers and policymakers need to work through, and they are—they are not unaware that these are real issues—but it is not something that a person in pain should factor into their decision before reaching out to a professional. Those are completely separate conversations and, I have to say, grit and the Protestant work ethic are not really part of either conversation. If you are finding it hard to function, sleep or feel okay on most days, that matters. Whatever label ends up being or not being attached to it, the experience is real. A good clinician will not just hand out a diagnosis; they will listen, ask questions and work with you over time. Attention has been drawn to the remarks of Professor Sir Simon Wessely, who drew attention to the overmedicalisation of everyday problems. I support that characterisation, but here we are talking about diagnosis by trained medical professionals, not self-diagnosis. There is already enough shame attached to mental health struggles—I know the situation is improving, but it is still a big barrier—without adding an extra layer: the worry that your problem is not real enough, or that you are somehow contributing to a broader diagnostic trend. That is not a burden anyone should be carrying. I ask my noble friend the Minister to show that she understands the issues in her reply and to commit the resources to provide a mental health service across the range of mental problems. Clearly, serious problems should be a priority, but that does not preclude the need to provide a range of services. The noble Baroness, Lady Murphy, is right: the goal of mental health care is not to provide a diagnosis; it is to help people to feel better and function well—and, ultimately, you do not need a label for that. But the problems are real, and we should not do anything that would suggest to people that their problems are not real.