As with the 83% 'stat', it feels like the conviction that this is just a matter of self-concept, self-efficacy & incentives is once again leading the thinking of key figures, without any firm evidence being presented of causal relationships or any real curiousity about alternative explanations

It's a shift from claiming that "everyday experiences" are being "overdiagnosed" as anxiety & depression, to saying that people do have those conditions but it's "normal" & isn't a real barrier to working

People should absolutely be supported to work where possible but this is denying their reality

Finally, the only way to support significant numbers of young people to overcome the barriers they face, particularly around mental health, will be to foster genuine engagement & offer genuine opportunities. Reverting to compliance & cuts again would be a huge mistake /5

This means listening to young people directly & accounting for the whole range of social, emotional & economic factors that they have experienced

There are some welcome comments on this in McFadden's Times interview, including recognition that this is an "issue of inequality" /4

One thing I've learnt from frontline practice is that if you start from a position of assuming people are trying their best in the circumstances they're facing, you're much more likely to understand how they have ended up where they are & what might help them to progress /3

First & foremost, it mustn't start with lazy pre-conceptions about young people's character, motivation & honesty

Positive to see Pat McFadden's response to the question of 'overdiagnosis': "I don't want to play amateur doctor. I want to approach this with sensitivity." /2

The full @mind.org.uk report is available here: t.co/9Vf4fyNnD5

You can find the full analysis here by Health Equity North here: committees.parliament.uk/writtenevide...