Charities attack Farage's claims of 'mental illness overdiagnosis'

Nigel Farage has said the UK is "massively overdiagnosing those with mental illness problems" and creating a "class of victims".

- Jessica Elgot

In comments that have drawn criticism from campaigners and charities, the leader of Reform UK claimed it was too easy to get a mental health diagnosis from a GP.

"It's a massive problem. I have to say, for my own money, when you get to 18 and you put somebody on a disability register, unemployed, with a high level of benefits, you're telling people aged 18 that they're victims," he told a local elections press conference in Dover.

"And if you are told you're a victim, and you think you're a victim, you are likely to stay [a victim]."

Farage continued: "So many of these diagnoses, for Send [special educational needs and disabilities] before 18, for disability register after 18 - so many of these have been conducted on Zoom with the family GP."