Are doctors over diagnosing mental health conditions and turning biblical, anthropological problems into illness in the process?

‘Commentators argue that, unlike physical disease, mental health diagnoses are typically not based on tests like blood work or scans. Rather, they stem from the standardized categorization of behaviours and other symptoms. The challenge, they suggest, is that once someone is “labelled” with a particular diagnosis, they may mistakenly believe they have an inherent biological flaw - which can ironically hinder their recovery,’ says Ann-Louise Graham.

A psychiatrist recently warned that an incorrect mental health diagnosis can be as harmful as no diagnosis at all, responding to remarks by Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who suggested doctors are over-diagnosing mental health conditions. Streeting’s comments sparked significant reaction in the national media, with mental health charities cautioning the need for extreme care when approaching this subject.