Overview

• Nigel Farage argued that mental health and behavioral conditions are being overdiagnosed in the UK, creating a 'class of victims' dependent on benefits.
• Farage claimed that many diagnoses, including for ADHD and autism, are too easily granted by GPs, often through virtual assessments, and called for independent evaluations instead.
• Mental health charity Mind and the National Autistic Society strongly rebuked Farage's statements, labeling them inaccurate and harmful to those struggling to access support.
• Evidence from Rethink Mental Illness highlights that mental health patients face significantly longer treatment delays compared to those with physical health issues.
• Farage’s remarks have become a contentious issue in the local election campaign, with critics accusing him of politicizing mental health and undermining support for special needs services.