9 October 2026
The final report from the official, ‘Independent review into prevalence and support for mental health conditions, ADHD and autism’ across England was published on 9 October 2026 and was commissioned by the UK Government
The UK Government has published the final report of the ‘Independent review into prevalence and support for mental health conditions, ADHD and autism’ across England. The report calls for a shift from a diagnosis-dependent system to a ‘needs-led plus diagnosis’ system. While recognising that diagnosis remains fundamental to good clinical care, the review proposes that meaningful support should be available before diagnosis, based on a holistic assessment of needs.
The review was led by Professor Peter Fonagy, with interim reports shared in June this year.
During the course of the review, we were delighted to meet with the review’s Co-Chair Professor Gillian Baird, Honorary Fellow of the RCSLT, to discuss the central role of speech and language therapists in supporting autistic people, people with ADHD and those with mental health conditions. We are also pleased that Professor Courtenay Norbury, speech and language therapist and Professor of Developmental Language and Communication Disorders, made an important contribution to the review as a topic group member.
RCSLT response
The RCSLT welcomes the report, which recognises that language and communication needs commonly co-occur with mental health conditions, ADHD and autism, yet are frequently overlooked in the current system. The report includes a recommendation that mental health and neurodevelopmental support in England should be organised through a single coordinated pathway, working closely with education, social care and other local services. It will be vital that the pathway explicitly recognises that language and communication needs are part of the “wider landscape of neurodevelopmental differences”.
We are particularly pleased to see that speech and language therapy is recognised as a core part of the recommended neighbourhood multi-disciplinary team for children and young people. However, it is important to remember that mental health conditions, ADHD and autism are lifelong realities whose impacts can continue and escalate throughout adulthood and into later life without the right support.
Call for action on investment and workforce
This landmark report recognises that speech and language therapists are central to delivering the shift to needs-led support for autistic people, people with ADHD and those with mental health conditions. To make this a reality, it’s essential that the UK Government commits to sustained investment and workforce growth, including for the speech and language therapy profession, so that children, young people and adults receive the support they need.
Read the full report
You can find the full report, including in accessible formats, on Gov.UK
