health
February 22, 2026
Are we really overdiagnosing mental illness?
It’s tempting to dismiss the proliferation of labels as a fad, but there’s more to this phenomenon than a simple culture-war reading allows
TL;DR
- There is evidence of "concept creep" where mental illness terminology is used more casually, and an increase in self-diagnoses, suggesting some degree of overdiagnosis is occurring.
- However, overdiagnosis is an oversimplification; increased rates may also be due to reduced stigma, greater willingness to seek help, and genuinely worsening life circumstances.
- Stressors like financial insecurity, geopolitical events, and the impact of Covid-19, along with reduced youth services and the influence of smartphones/social media, likely contribute to increased mental health struggles.
- The possibility of overdiagnosis should not be used to dismiss individuals reporting psychological distress, as this can increase their suffering and lead them to use escalating terms to convey their symptoms.
- It is impossible to fully understand someone's difficulties from the outside, and if a person states they are struggling, they should be believed.
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