For years, a persistent narrative has suggested that today’s young people are simply too fragile, claiming that normal life stresses are being medicalized to create a generation of snowflakes. This sentiment was echoed even at the highest levels of government when Health Secretary Wes Streeting previously suggested that mental health conditions were being overdiagnosed. However, a comprehensive new review led by Professor Peter Fonagy dismantles this caricature, asserting instead that the rise in anxiety and depression among youth is both real and deeply rooted in genuine suffering.
Professor Fonagy argues that modern teenagers are facing a perfect storm of pressures that previous generations never encountered. From the lingering disruptions caused by the pandemic to chronic housing instability and the relentless nature of social media, the environment has become increasingly hostile. He notes that while older generations might recall a simpler time where one could just toughen up, the safety nets of the past, such as youth clubs and community support systems, have largely vanished, leaving young people isolated and outnumbered by forces beyond their control.
While acknowledging some concerns regarding unregulated private clinics and the potential for sporadic overdiagnosis, Fonagy insists these issues pale in comparison to a systemic failure in how care is delivered. Currently, access to essential school support or disability benefits depends almost entirely on obtaining a formal clinical diagnosis. With NHS waiting lists stretching to over a year, this creates an unfair divide where only those wealthy enough to pay for private assessments receive timely help.
Ultimately, the review calls for a fundamental shift away from this obsession with labels toward a system focused on immediate triage and support based on actual need rather than a specific code in a medical file. As several other government reviews tackle employment and disability benefits, Fonagy warns that maintaining the current trajectory is unsustainable. The message is clear: today’s youth aren’t lacking resilience; they are struggling under an unprecedented burden that requires structural change rather than societal judgment.
