Mental health is important, and it’s great that more people are talking about it! But sometimes, kids are diagnosed with mental health conditions when they might just be going through normal emotions. This can lead to unnecessary treatments, stress for families, and children believing there’s something “wrong” with them when they’re just experiencing regular growing-up challenges.
In recent years, mental health diagnoses among children have risen sharply. According to the CDC, 9.8% of children aged 3-17 in the U.S. have been diagnosed with ADHD, 9.4% with anxiety, and 4.4% with depression. In the UK, an NHS report found that 1 in 5 young people aged 8-25 had a probable mental disorder in 2023. While this increase shows growing awareness, experts warn that it may also indicate overdiagnosis.
This article explores what overdiagnosis means, why it’s happening, and what parents and educators can do to make sure kids get the right kind of help without unnecessary medical labels.
What Is Overdiagnosis?
Overdiagnosis happens when a child is diagnosed with a mental health condition that wouldn’t actually harm them if left untreated. This doesn’t mean the diagnosis is fake—it just means some kids may be getting labels they don’t need.
For example, being shy, worrying before a big test, or having lots of energy are normal behaviors. But in some cases, they’re being labeled as anxiety, depression, or ADHD. The problem with this? Kids might end up believing they are “sick” when they’re actually just reacting to life’s challenges in a normal way.
One study found that nearly 20% of ADHD diagnoses may be overdiagnosed, leading to unnecessary medication use. Similarly, changes in diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder have led to a 787% increase in cases since the 1990s. This raises the question: Are all these children truly in need of medical intervention?
Why Are More Kids Being Diagnosed?
There are several reasons why mental health diagnoses are increasing among children:
1. Expanded Diagnostic Criteria
● Disorders like ADHD, autism, and anxiety now have broader definitions, meaning more behaviors are classified as symptoms.
● Many children who might have been considered “high-energy” or “introverted” in the past are now being diagnosed with disorders.
2. Increased Awareness and Screening
● More parents, teachers, and doctors are paying attention to mental health, which is good. However, it also means that mild or temporary behaviors might be labeled as disorders.
● Schools sometimes push for diagnoses to secure extra support for children, even if they don’t necessarily need medical treatment.
3. Pressure from Society and Schools
● Some parents feel pressured to get a diagnosis for their child to access educational resources.
● Teachers may misunderstand a child’s struggles and recommend a psychological assessment too soon.
● Standardized testing and academic pressures make some children anxious, but this doesn’t always mean they have a disorder.
4. Influence of Social Media and Online Information
● Teens and preteens often self-diagnose after seeing mental health content on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube.
● A 2022 study found that 1 in 3 teens who self-diagnosed with a disorder online did not meet clinical criteria when assessed by a professional.
5. Pharmaceutical and Healthcare System Influence
● Medication for ADHD and anxiety has become more common, with prescriptions for children rising by 35% over the past decade.
● Some doctors and mental health
How Overdiagnosis Affects Kids and Families
For Kids:
● Unnecessary Medication: Taking medicine when it’s not needed can cause side effects like sleep problems, loss of appetite, and mood swings.
● Believing They Are “Broken”: Kids who are given a diagnosis they don’t need might think something is permanently wrong with them.
● Less Resilience: If every emotional challenge is treated as a medical problem, kids might not learn how to manage their feelings on their own.
For Parents and Families:
● Stress and Worry: Parents may feel overwhelmed trying to manage a diagnosis that might not be necessary.
● Financial Costs: Therapy and medication can be expensive, and not all treatments are needed.
● Confusion About What’s Best: Parents may feel torn between doctors, teachers, and their own instincts.
For Schools and Society:
● Less Help for Those Who Truly Need It: Overdiagnosis strains mental health services, making it harder for children with severe conditions to get timely support.
● Medicalizing Normal Childhood: Everyday struggles like sadness, frustration, or hyperactivity are being treated as medical conditions instead of as part of growing up.
How Can We Make Sure Kids Get the Right Help?
Doctors and Mental Health Professionals Can:
● Take their time before diagnosing a child.
● Use multiple assessments instead of relying on one quick test.
● Focus on therapy and lifestyle changes before medication.
Parents Can:
● Learn about normal child development to understand what’s typical and what’s a concern.
● Ask questions before accepting a diagnosis—What symptoms were observed? How long? Are there alternatives to medication?
● Consider changes in diet, sleep, exercise, and school routines before seeking medical treatment.
Teachers and Schools Can:
● Support children without rushing to label them with a disorder.
● Offer different ways to help kids learn without requiring a medical diagnosis.
● Work with parents to understand behavioral changes in children.
Policymakers Can:
● Ensure clearer, evidence-based guidelines for diagnosing mental health conditions in children.
● Provide better access to non-medical support systems like school counselors and parenting workshops.
How to Know If a Diagnosis Might Not Be Right
If your child has been diagnosed with a mental health condition, ask yourself:
✅ Are the symptoms long-lasting and severe, or are they occasional and mild?
✅ Was the diagnosis based on multiple assessments, not just one short visit?
✅ Could stress, lack of sleep, diet, or a difficult school environment be contributing to their behavior?
✅ Has a second opinion been sought from another professional?
Sometimes, what looks like a disorder is actually just part of growing up. That’s why it’s important to be cautious before accepting a label.
Finding the Right Balance
It’s a positive step that mental health is being discussed more openly, but overdiagnosis is a real concern. While some children genuinely need support, others may be unnecessarily labeled with disorders. This can lead to medication they don’t need, stress for families, and children growing up believing they are “broken” when they are not.
By working together—parents, teachers, doctors, and kids—we can ensure that every child gets the right kind of help without unnecessary medicalization. Let’s recognize that childhood is full of emotions, and that’s okay. The goal should be to provide genuine support while letting kids be kids.
References
https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/data.html
https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/mental-health-of-chil dren-and-young-people-in-england
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health
● Merten, E. C., Cwik, J. C., Margraf, J., & Schneider, S. (2017). Overdiagnosis of Mental Disorders in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 45(8), 1451-1461.
● Batstra, L., & Frances, A. (2012). Diagnostic Inflation: Causes and Consequences of the Expansion of Psychiatric Diagnoses. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 81(3), 132-141.
● Timimi, S. (2017). The Diagnosis of ADHD is a Cultural Barometer Rather Than a Scientific Fact. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 210(1), 6-8.
● O’Sullivan, S. (2021). The Sleeping Beauties: And Other Stories of Mystery Illness. Pantheon Books.
● Russell, G., Ford, T., & Steer, C. (2021). Changes in Diagnosis Rates of Autism Spectrum Disorder Over Time. JAMA Pediatrics, 175(2), 123-131.
● Twenge, J. M., & Campbell, W. K. (2018). The Impact of Increased Screen Time on Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Clinical Psychological Science, 6(1), 3-17.
