Self-diagnosed mental health UK rates are rising — and the conversation around diagnosis is changing fast.

“I’m hearing this more and more…”

Are you one of them?

I’m hearing this more and more — not just in my work, but in everyday conversation too.

People telling me they’re waiting for a diagnosis.
That they’ve self-diagnosed.
Or that they’ve only recently received one.

And often, they don’t say it quietly.

They say it with a strange mix of certainty… and relief.

Because the data backs up what many of us are noticing anecdotally.

The rise in self-diagnosed mental health UK conversations reflects how many people are searching for clarity before reaching clinical pathways.

Diagnoses of common mental health conditions are rising across all age groups in the UK.

Adults now sit at over 22%.

And the sharpest increases are being seen among younger people.

On paper, those numbers can sound alarming.

But numbers alone don’t tell the emotional story underneath.

Because for many people — particularly those diagnosed later in life — the dominant feeling isn’t fear.

It’s relief.

Relief that the anxiety, overwhelm, low mood, distraction, or emotional exhaustion finally makes sense.

Relief that the internal narrative they’ve carried for years — “What’s wrong with me?” — finally has language around it.

And perhaps most powerfully…

Relief that “something wasn’t quite right” wasn’t laziness, weakness, or personal failure.

Increasingly, people aren’t waiting for clinicians to name it first.

According to AXA Health, nearly 48% of people in the UK say they’ve self-diagnosed using online information in the last year alone.

Among 16–24-year-olds, almost 1 in 5 say they’ve done this four or more times — often in relation to mental health.

That tells us something important.

People are searching for answers.

They’re trying to make sense of what they’re experiencing.

They’re joining dots between symptoms, behaviours, and life patterns.

And clinicians are now seeing more individuals arrive in appointments already saying:

“I think this is me.”

A Question I’m Being Asked More and More

One question I’m hearing constantly at the moment is this:

“Do you think neurodivergence is on the increase?”

And my honest answer often surprises people.

I’m not sure it is — at least not in the way the question is usually framed.

What I think we’re seeing is greater awareness… greater language… and greater amplification.

Self-Diagnosed Mental Health UK — What’s Driving the Rise?

More people recognising traits in themselves that might previously have gone unnamed.

More people joining dots between attention, distraction, sensory overload, anxiety, and cognitive fatigue.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean neurodivergence itself is suddenly rising at the rate headlines sometimes imply.

It may simply mean we’re becoming more attuned to how differently human minds have always operated.

And perhaps — this is where it can feel slightly controversial — there’s also an argument that, to varying degrees, we all sit somewhere along a spectrum of difference.

Different processing speeds.
Different attention thresholds.
Different tolerance for noise, pressure, stimulation, and cognitive load.

What’s changed most dramatically isn’t necessarily our wiring.

It’s the environment that wiring now has to function inside.

The Information Load We’re Living Under

When we talk about attention and cognitive strain, we also have to acknowledge the sheer volume of information people are exposed to daily.

Some estimates suggest the average person now consumes the equivalent of tens of gigabytes of information every day — often compared to reading multiple newspapers’ worth of content within a 24-hour period.

Whether it’s news alerts, emails, social feeds, notifications, podcasts, meetings, or streaming content — the human brain is processing more input than at any other point in history.

And yet neurologically, we’re still operating with the same core wiring we’ve always had.

Our survival-oriented brain systems were designed to scan for danger, filter relevance, and conserve energy.

They weren’t designed to process a constant stream of digital noise.

So what happens?

We skim.
We scroll.
We half-process.

And when the load becomes too high, the brain does what it’s always done under pressure — it filters aggressively.

Information gets deleted, bypassed, or superficially processed just to keep us functioning.

Which can look, from the outside, like distraction, forgetfulness, or cognitive fatigue.

But in many cases, it’s neurological self-protection.

I was reminded of this recently reading Johann Hari’s book Stolen Focus, which explores how modern life is systematically eroding our ability to concentrate, think deeply, and remain present.

He makes a compelling case that our time — and by extension our attention — is being continually fragmented.

Notifications.
Open loops.
Digital overload.
Relentless task-switching.

And it leaves us holding an uncomfortable but important reflection:

We’re asking human brains built for survival to operate in environments built for stimulation.

When you view rising distraction, overwhelm, and mental exhaustion through that lens…

It reframes the conversation again.

Not just as an individual issue — but as an environmental one.

Because if the pace and volume of modern life exceed what the human brain can comfortably process…

Then many of the struggles we’re seeing may be less about deficit — and more about overload.

Where Diagnosis Still Matters

Now, none of this dismisses the value of diagnosis.

Far from it.

When used well, diagnosis can be incredibly helpful.

It can:

Provide language for lived experience.
Reduce stigma — both internal and external.
Open doors to appropriate support.
Enable workplace adjustments.
Support more informed conversations at home.

For many, it becomes a moment of validation rather than limitation.

But this is where the line needs careful handling.

Because while diagnosis can explain what’s been happening…

It shouldn’t be allowed to define who someone is.

That’s the tension point we’re navigating collectively right now.

How do we increase awareness without over-pathologising normal human struggle?

How do we provide clarity without creating identity labels people feel trapped inside?

How do we support understanding without shrinking agency?

These are the conversations I’m seeing play out every day in my work.

Employers asking how to respond.

Parents trying to understand what support looks like.

Leaders balancing compassion with accountability.

And individuals themselves — holding both relief and uncertainty at the same time.

Because a diagnosis can answer questions…

But it can also raise new ones.

What does this mean for my future?
For my work?
For how others see me?
For how I see myself?

Handled well, diagnosis can be a gateway to support and self-understanding.

Handled poorly, it can become a ceiling rather than a doorway.

So the real question isn’t just how many people are being diagnosed.

It’s how we help people hold that information in a way that empowers rather than defines them.

I’m seeing this tension every day in my work.

Are you?

P.S. Diagnosis can explain what’s been happening. It shouldn’t decide what happens next.

People often ask me how I got into the work I do.

Part of that journey is lived experience.

My youngest daughter was diagnosed with ADHD, and at the time it felt like stepping into the unknown. We had to learn — quickly — what it meant, how to support her, and how to help her navigate the world in a way that worked for her mind rather than against it.

Today, she’s thriving.

And that experience shaped not just my understanding of diagnosis — but my belief that insight, when held well, can become a platform for growth rather than a limitation.

Mike Lawrence: Your Guide to Health & Wellbeing

I’m Mike Lawrence, a passionate advocate for mental health and wellbeing. After overcoming significant health challenges, including brain surgery, I’ve dedicated myself to a journey of self-improvement and helping others thrive. From heart-pounding skydives for charity to soul-enriching travels in Thailand, my experiences have shaped my approach to holistic health.

I love sharing the lessons I’ve learned from these adventures and the powerful audiobooks I devour. Let’s explore the paths to better mental and physical health together. Embrace life’s adventures with enthusiasm and resilience, and remember—you’re never alone on this journey!

Feel free to email me at hello@mikelawrence.co.uk or connect with me on LinkedIn. For more in-depth insights and inspiring stories, read my latest blogs here. Together, let’s create a healthier, happier future!