A better understanding of mental ill health is crucial

‘A diagnosis can be clinically meaningful by reducing self-blame and shame that block people from seeking help.’ Photograph: Pornpak Khunatorn/Getty Images/iStockphoto

As a psychotherapist with child and adolescent mental health services, I welcome Wes Streeting’s change of heart on his comments about the “overdiagnosis” of mental health conditions, ADHD and autism (I realise now that my view on mental health overdiagnosis was divisive. We all need better evidence, 4 December). Political point-scoring has no place in public health.

By setting up this taskforce, Streeting acknowledges the complexity of the picture and that conversations must be led by research, where science and suffering can be held together.