ASD & ADHD Life Course Prevalence Study
Data Use Register - full project summary
Project Identifier
NWSDE_0078
Project Title
ASD & ADHD Life Course Prevalence Study
Lay summary
Secretary of State -sponsored study examining the prevalence of ASD and ADHD across the life course, including proposed linkage of MRIC mental health data with GP data within NW SDE.
This project forms part of the Government’s Independent Review into the prevalence of mental health conditions, autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), commissioned by the Secretary of State for Health. The Review aims to understand why demand for assessment and care has risen sharply across England and how people experience NHS services in practice.
This project forms part of the Government’s Independent Review into the prevalence of mental health conditions, autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), commissioned by the Secretary of State for Health. The Review aims to understand why demand for assessment and care has risen sharply across England and how people experience NHS services in practice.
Public benefit statement
The data access was requested to support the Government independent review to look at rising demand for mental health, ADHD and autism services and what is driving it.
• The review is building clinical evidence base on mental health, autism and ADHD services
• It examines what is driving rising demand for services including inequalities in accessing support
• It is the next step in government’s 10 Year Health Plan commitment to transforming mental health care
The increased burden on the NHS means that for too long, people with acute needs have faced long waits, had to navigate overstretched services, experienced inequalities in care and felt abandoned when support was needed most. A recent survey by Rethink Mental Illness set out how important it is to ensure people are getting the right support. For example, it found that some parents were resorting to private treatment to get their children the treatment they need, with one case study saying that the cost was leading to such severe hardship that they couldn’t afford to eat regularly.
The review is exploring why people are increasingly turning to the NHS and other services for support, the role of diagnosis in accessing help, and how appropriate current interventions are.
It will recommend practical, evidence-based approaches to prevention and early intervention and will be led by Professor Peter Fonagy, a clinical psychologist and National Clinical Advisor on Children and Young People’s Mental Health.
The findings, which will be published in autumn 2026, will inform the government’s 10 Year Health Plan commitment to tackle the mental health crisis in adults and children.
• The review is building clinical evidence base on mental health, autism and ADHD services
• It examines what is driving rising demand for services including inequalities in accessing support
• It is the next step in government’s 10 Year Health Plan commitment to transforming mental health care
The increased burden on the NHS means that for too long, people with acute needs have faced long waits, had to navigate overstretched services, experienced inequalities in care and felt abandoned when support was needed most. A recent survey by Rethink Mental Illness set out how important it is to ensure people are getting the right support. For example, it found that some parents were resorting to private treatment to get their children the treatment they need, with one case study saying that the cost was leading to such severe hardship that they couldn’t afford to eat regularly.
The review is exploring why people are increasingly turning to the NHS and other services for support, the role of diagnosis in accessing help, and how appropriate current interventions are.
It will recommend practical, evidence-based approaches to prevention and early intervention and will be led by Professor Peter Fonagy, a clinical psychologist and National Clinical Advisor on Children and Young People’s Mental Health.
The findings, which will be published in autumn 2026, will inform the government’s 10 Year Health Plan commitment to tackle the mental health crisis in adults and children.
Legal Name of contracting organisation
University of Cambridge
Date of countersigned contract
20/04/2026
Health Research Classification System
Academia
Current Project Status
live: Live Data In Use
Multiple SDE
No
Name of SDE parties
Is SDE the lead in this project?
Yes
Further information
Project link