Nigel Farage’s comments about mental health has been altered by charity Mind, from a newspaper article headline.
He has been accused of being “completely out of touch” after he suggested that mental health conditions and what he described as “behavioural disabilities” are being overdiagnosed.
Mental health charity Mind have accused the Reform UK leader of “demonising” vulnerable people, while the National Autistic Society called for an end to “political point scoring”.
Farage comment
The Reform leader told a local elections campaign event that overdiagnosis is “creating a class of victims in Britain who will struggle ever to get out of it”.
He told the event “I have to say for my own money when you get to 18 and you put somebody on a disability register, unemployed with a higher level of benefits: you’re telling people aged 18 that they’re victims.
“And if you are told you’re a victim and you think you’re a victim, you are very likely to stay as a victim.”
He later added: “I think we are massively over-diagnosing those with mental illness problems, those with other general behavioural disabilities, and I think we’re creating a class of victims in Britain who will struggle ever to get out of it.”
Mind response
Mind shared the headline alteration and wrote: “Let’s be real – the facts are the real victims here. They keep being overlooked in favour of fuelling culture wars.
“Mental health struggles are shaped by our society – things like poverty, job insecurity, and a lack of support. But instead of asking what’s driving an increase in mental health problems, our politicians choose to demonise those who are struggling most in our society.
“We know what helps: decent pay, safe, affordable housing, strong communities, and support when people need it. It’s time politicians stopped blaming the most vulnerable and started facing the facts.”
Related: National Autistic Society responds to Farage’s controversial remarks on SEND
