Ex-OFSTED chief warns mental health awareness may now harm children's resilience
The number of children and young people using NHS secondary mental health services has more than doubled since early 2020. Over a million under-18s accessed these services in 2024-25 alone. Now, a former education chief has warned that efforts to reduce stigma may have gone too far, creating new challenges for schools and families.
Baroness Spielman, who led Ofsted as chief inspector from 2017 to 2023, claims the push to normalize mental health struggles has backfired. In her view, teenagers now sometimes exaggerate issues to gain attention or special treatment. She argues that the drive to remove stigma has made mental health problems seem 'glamorous' among peers.
The Conservative peer, appointed to the House of Lords in 2024, also criticized modern parenting trends. A recent survey revealed that one in four children starting reception in 2025 were not toilet trained. Another 28% struggled to eat and drink without help. Spielman blames 'gentle parenting' for setting unrealistic expectations, leaving children unprepared for school life.
She proposes reintroducing stigma for parents who fail to equip their children with basic skills. Labelling children too quickly with mental health issues, she warns, risks lowering expectations of what they can achieve. Her comments come as NHS data shows a sharp rise in young people seeking specialist support.
The debate highlights growing concerns about how mental health awareness is shaping young people's behavior. With record numbers accessing NHS services, the focus now turns to balancing support with realistic expectations. Spielman's remarks suggest a need for clearer boundaries between genuine need and perceived struggles in schools and homes.
