Are doctors ‘over-diagnosing’ mental health problems?

In 2018, back pain ceased to be the main reason people were taking days off work. The number one spot is now occupied by the stress-anxiety-depression family of mental health problems.

Some used to say that people with back pain were malingering; now, we reserve that accusation for people with mental health issues.

MP Wes Streeting, the health secretary, recently added fuel to this fire by suggesting that doctors were ‘over-diagnosing’ mental health problems. The cynics are having a field day.