Tom Pollard
@pollardtom.bsky.social
Head of Policy, Campaigns & Public Affairs at Mind | NHS Mental Health Social Worker | Previously at NEF & DWP | Views expressed here my own
Media & political noise about "overdiagnosis" has ramped up this year, crowding out more thoughtful & constructive debate about how we should respond to rising levels of mental distress. Mind CEO @drsarahhughesceo.bsky.social points us back in the right direction here www.hsj.co.uk/mental-healt...
The toxic overdiagnosis narrative is a distraction from the mental health crisis
Rising mental distress demands evidence, compassion and reform, not culture wars, denial or barriers to support for young people, writes Sarah Hughes
www.hsj.co.uk
December 22, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Media & political noise about "overdiagnosis" has ramped up this year, crowding out more thoughtful & constructive debate about how we should respond to rising levels of mental distress. Mind CEO @drsarahhughesceo.bsky.social points us back in the right direction here www.hsj.co.uk/mental-healt...
Reposted by Tom Pollard
Stacey from @changingrealities.bsky.social has written such an honest blog about why, even with awful trolling, she won’t stop speaking up for people living in poverty
www.changingrealities.org/blog/why-i-w...
www.changingrealities.org/blog/why-i-w...
It was a lot. I didn’t realise I’d be placed all over social media. I thought it would be just a couple of pictures for something, but it is what it is now. I have thought about it a lot this morning and I had to put my thoughts down on paper.
www.changingrealities.org
December 11, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Stacey from @changingrealities.bsky.social has written such an honest blog about why, even with awful trolling, she won’t stop speaking up for people living in poverty
www.changingrealities.org/blog/why-i-w...
www.changingrealities.org/blog/why-i-w...
It's right to explore what's driving increased prevalence & what support people need. But as @johnharris1969.bsky.social says, in "a country in which questioning other people’s needs is almost becoming a national sport" the government risks stoking a toxic debate www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The right’s callous overdiagnosis bandwagon is rolling. Wes Streeting should not be on it | John Harris
Thankfully, we now know more about conditions such as autism and ADHD. The health secretary must not be part of this attempt to turn back the clock, says Guardian columnist John Harris
www.theguardian.com
December 8, 2025 at 12:29 PM
It's right to explore what's driving increased prevalence & what support people need. But as @johnharris1969.bsky.social says, in "a country in which questioning other people’s needs is almost becoming a national sport" the government risks stoking a toxic debate www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Surprising to see an institution with the impeccable moral integrity of FIFA toadying up to Trump
December 5, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Surprising to see an institution with the impeccable moral integrity of FIFA toadying up to Trump
This is a welcome & reflective intervention. 'Overdiagnosis' is a simplistic & stigmatising explanation for what, in reality, is a complex interplay of health, social & economic factors. The focus should be on getting people the right support at the right time www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
I realise now that my view on mental health overdiagnosis was divisive. We all need better evidence | Wes Streeting
The surge in mental ill health is hugely distressing. That’s why I’ve commissioned a review to find out what’s driving it, says health secretary Wes Streeting
www.theguardian.com
December 5, 2025 at 8:47 AM
This is a welcome & reflective intervention. 'Overdiagnosis' is a simplistic & stigmatising explanation for what, in reality, is a complex interplay of health, social & economic factors. The focus should be on getting people the right support at the right time www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Huge moment to finally see the two-child limit scrapped. It has been a machine for driving up child poverty, which will cost us all more in the long term, scarring the lives of those directly hit by its cruel impact. Credit to everyone who has tirelessly campaigned for its end
November 26, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Huge moment to finally see the two-child limit scrapped. It has been a machine for driving up child poverty, which will cost us all more in the long term, scarring the lives of those directly hit by its cruel impact. Credit to everyone who has tirelessly campaigned for its end
Any genuine attempt to better understand what is going on around young people, unemployment & poor health is welcome, especially as an alternative to rushing to propose further benefit cuts
Critical that this review gets some key things right though... 🧵
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Critical that this review gets some key things right though... 🧵
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Inquiry to review rising levels of youth inactivity
Former Labour Health Secretary Alan Milburn will lead the investigation, with conclusions set to be published next summer.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Any genuine attempt to better understand what is going on around young people, unemployment & poor health is welcome, especially as an alternative to rushing to propose further benefit cuts
Critical that this review gets some key things right though... 🧵
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Critical that this review gets some key things right though... 🧵
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Powerful Sky News piece on the need for better support services for young people's mental health, based a new
@mind.org.uk report
Long waits for support are impacting young people's mental & physical health, as well as their education & employment news.sky.com/story/mental...
@mind.org.uk report
Long waits for support are impacting young people's mental & physical health, as well as their education & employment news.sky.com/story/mental...
Mental health affecting education attendance 'for half of young people', says report
A charity providing early intervention and crisis support tells Sky News it's seen an increase in young people using its services since the pandemic.
news.sky.com
October 30, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Powerful Sky News piece on the need for better support services for young people's mental health, based a new
@mind.org.uk report
Long waits for support are impacting young people's mental & physical health, as well as their education & employment news.sky.com/story/mental...
@mind.org.uk report
Long waits for support are impacting young people's mental & physical health, as well as their education & employment news.sky.com/story/mental...
.@mind.org.uk's response to Reform's proposals to "cut PIP payments to people with anxiety" in this BBC News
piece: bbc.co.uk/news/article...
So much of the political debate around PIP betrays a complete lack of understanding of what the benefit is for, who gets it & how it's assessed
piece: bbc.co.uk/news/article...
So much of the political debate around PIP betrays a complete lack of understanding of what the benefit is for, who gets it & how it's assessed
October 29, 2025 at 5:13 PM
.@mind.org.uk's response to Reform's proposals to "cut PIP payments to people with anxiety" in this BBC News
piece: bbc.co.uk/news/article...
So much of the political debate around PIP betrays a complete lack of understanding of what the benefit is for, who gets it & how it's assessed
piece: bbc.co.uk/news/article...
So much of the political debate around PIP betrays a complete lack of understanding of what the benefit is for, who gets it & how it's assessed
PIP is assessed based on the impact of health problems & disabilities (often multiple & complex) on someone's ability to live independently
Saying "we'll stop PIP for people with anxiety" just bears no relation to the reality of how the benefit operates www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10...
Saying "we'll stop PIP for people with anxiety" just bears no relation to the reality of how the benefit operates www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10...
October 29, 2025 at 10:15 AM
PIP is assessed based on the impact of health problems & disabilities (often multiple & complex) on someone's ability to live independently
Saying "we'll stop PIP for people with anxiety" just bears no relation to the reality of how the benefit operates www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10...
Saying "we'll stop PIP for people with anxiety" just bears no relation to the reality of how the benefit operates www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10...
Coverage of @mind.org.uk's new report on youth mental health
Government plans for 50 youth hubs are welcome, but a serious response to the scale of the crisis requires services like this in every local authority, as part of a wider youth mental health strategy www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Government plans for 50 youth hubs are welcome, but a serious response to the scale of the crisis requires services like this in every local authority, as part of a wider youth mental health strategy www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Government ‘must go further and faster on hubs for youngsters’ mental health’
A report by mental health charity Mind said many young people are reaching crisis point before they receive any kind of care.
www.independent.co.uk
October 29, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Coverage of @mind.org.uk's new report on youth mental health
Government plans for 50 youth hubs are welcome, but a serious response to the scale of the crisis requires services like this in every local authority, as part of a wider youth mental health strategy www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Government plans for 50 youth hubs are welcome, but a serious response to the scale of the crisis requires services like this in every local authority, as part of a wider youth mental health strategy www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Heartbreaking figures. The causes will, of course, be complex. But a caricatured debate about 'overdiagnosis' is a dangerous distraction when, as @mind.org.uk's @gemmabyrne.bsky.social says here, over half a million under-18s are on mental health waiting lists www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Suicide rates among young people in England rose 50% in 10 years, figures show
Charities accuse government of ‘sliding backwards’ on child mental health after ONS findings
www.theguardian.com
October 21, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Heartbreaking figures. The causes will, of course, be complex. But a caricatured debate about 'overdiagnosis' is a dangerous distraction when, as @mind.org.uk's @gemmabyrne.bsky.social says here, over half a million under-18s are on mental health waiting lists www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Important work by @kslharrison.bsky.social of @citizensadvice.bsky.social - 'support conversations' between DWP & disabled people should about genuine engagement, not just process-driven compliance. That means being voluntary, empathic, flexible & holistic www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...
A fresh start: transforming engagement with disabled benefits claimants through a case worker model
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
October 20, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Important work by @kslharrison.bsky.social of @citizensadvice.bsky.social - 'support conversations' between DWP & disabled people should about genuine engagement, not just process-driven compliance. That means being voluntary, empathic, flexible & holistic www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...
Welcome intervention, commissioned by @debbieabrahamsmp.bsky.social's Work and Pensions Select Committee, to demonstrate that better employment support for disabled people could generate significant fiscal savings, without needing to rely on crude cuts to benefits inews.co.uk/news/politic...
How Reeves could save £12bn without cutting disability benefits
Billions could be recouped by the Treasury by offering careers support for the disabled
inews.co.uk
October 16, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Welcome intervention, commissioned by @debbieabrahamsmp.bsky.social's Work and Pensions Select Committee, to demonstrate that better employment support for disabled people could generate significant fiscal savings, without needing to rely on crude cuts to benefits inews.co.uk/news/politic...
After many years of hard-fought progress on attitudes towards mental health, things seem to be slipping
Simplistic, often malicious, narratives about people's experiences & motivations, alongside the fallout of under-funded services, are increasing stigma www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Simplistic, often malicious, narratives about people's experiences & motivations, alongside the fallout of under-funded services, are increasing stigma www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
‘Alarming rise’ in mental health stigma in England, research shows
One in 10 people unwilling to live next to someone who has been mentally ill even if they have recovered, Mind reports
www.theguardian.com
October 16, 2025 at 12:32 PM
After many years of hard-fought progress on attitudes towards mental health, things seem to be slipping
Simplistic, often malicious, narratives about people's experiences & motivations, alongside the fallout of under-funded services, are increasing stigma www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Simplistic, often malicious, narratives about people's experiences & motivations, alongside the fallout of under-funded services, are increasing stigma www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
"Pushing people into insecure, physical, inflexible work when they are already challenged by disability or mental health problems is futile. These jobs don’t work and they don’t last"
Spot on from @claremcneil.bsky.social - important work by @timewise.bsky.social www.thetimes.com/business-mon...
Spot on from @claremcneil.bsky.social - important work by @timewise.bsky.social www.thetimes.com/business-mon...
Sick who go back to work end up in low-paid, physically tough jobs
Only a tiny fraction of economically inactive find a job each year, and it is often an unsuitable role where they can only last a few months, research shows
www.thetimes.com
September 25, 2025 at 11:29 AM
"Pushing people into insecure, physical, inflexible work when they are already challenged by disability or mental health problems is futile. These jobs don’t work and they don’t last"
Spot on from @claremcneil.bsky.social - important work by @timewise.bsky.social www.thetimes.com/business-mon...
Spot on from @claremcneil.bsky.social - important work by @timewise.bsky.social www.thetimes.com/business-mon...
New Mental Health Act data out today:
-52,000 detentions last year (similar to the previous year)
-Black people 4x more likely than white people to be detained (up from 3.5x)
-A 17% increase in Community Treatment Orders
-Black people 8.5x more likely that white people to be on CTOs (up from 7x)
-52,000 detentions last year (similar to the previous year)
-Black people 4x more likely than white people to be detained (up from 3.5x)
-A 17% increase in Community Treatment Orders
-Black people 8.5x more likely that white people to be on CTOs (up from 7x)
Mental health support isn’t equal.
People from racialised communities face worse outcomes and unfair treatment.
The UK government needs to go further to stamp out racism in the Mental Health Act for good
These stats below are from England only. 1/6
People from racialised communities face worse outcomes and unfair treatment.
The UK government needs to go further to stamp out racism in the Mental Health Act for good
These stats below are from England only. 1/6
September 18, 2025 at 12:40 PM
New Mental Health Act data out today:
-52,000 detentions last year (similar to the previous year)
-Black people 4x more likely than white people to be detained (up from 3.5x)
-A 17% increase in Community Treatment Orders
-Black people 8.5x more likely that white people to be on CTOs (up from 7x)
-52,000 detentions last year (similar to the previous year)
-Black people 4x more likely than white people to be detained (up from 3.5x)
-A 17% increase in Community Treatment Orders
-Black people 8.5x more likely that white people to be on CTOs (up from 7x)
New @trusselluk.bsky.social data shows millions more people experiencing food insecurity than two years earlier
If we want to understand the rising prevalence of mental health problems, we should start with the rocketing numbers of households facing inadequate social & economic circumstances
If we want to understand the rising prevalence of mental health problems, we should start with the rocketing numbers of households facing inadequate social & economic circumstances
September 10, 2025 at 1:48 PM
New @trusselluk.bsky.social data shows millions more people experiencing food insecurity than two years earlier
If we want to understand the rising prevalence of mental health problems, we should start with the rocketing numbers of households facing inadequate social & economic circumstances
If we want to understand the rising prevalence of mental health problems, we should start with the rocketing numbers of households facing inadequate social & economic circumstances
My final piece of work for @neweconomics.bsky.social was a collaboration with Camden Council & a brilliant team of staff there
We ran a test & learn pilot to explore how to increase voluntary engagement with employment support among ill & disabled residents 1/3
We ran a test & learn pilot to explore how to increase voluntary engagement with employment support among ill & disabled residents 1/3
August 29, 2025 at 8:00 AM
My final piece of work for @neweconomics.bsky.social was a collaboration with Camden Council & a brilliant team of staff there
We ran a test & learn pilot to explore how to increase voluntary engagement with employment support among ill & disabled residents 1/3
We ran a test & learn pilot to explore how to increase voluntary engagement with employment support among ill & disabled residents 1/3
Wrapping up at @neweconomics.bsky.social today after a really enjoyable two & a half years leading the social policy team
Very excited to be returning to @mind.org.uk as head of policy, campaigns & public affairs in September
Means there's a great job going at NEF: neweconomics.org/about/work-w...
Very excited to be returning to @mind.org.uk as head of policy, campaigns & public affairs in September
Means there's a great job going at NEF: neweconomics.org/about/work-w...
Head of Social Policy
Together we can change the rules to protect the planet, share the wealth and give everyone a say in how the economy is run.
neweconomics.org
August 28, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Wrapping up at @neweconomics.bsky.social today after a really enjoyable two & a half years leading the social policy team
Very excited to be returning to @mind.org.uk as head of policy, campaigns & public affairs in September
Means there's a great job going at NEF: neweconomics.org/about/work-w...
Very excited to be returning to @mind.org.uk as head of policy, campaigns & public affairs in September
Means there's a great job going at NEF: neweconomics.org/about/work-w...
BBC coverage of a powerful new report by @neweconomics.bsky.social's @hollies.bsky.social about the impact of temporary accommodation on children's mental health, with a focus on Southwark where there is one classroom worth of homeless children for every primary school www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Southwark sees 77% rise in homeless children, report finds
There is one classroom worth of homeless children for every primary school, the report says.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 20, 2025 at 1:08 PM
BBC coverage of a powerful new report by @neweconomics.bsky.social's @hollies.bsky.social about the impact of temporary accommodation on children's mental health, with a focus on Southwark where there is one classroom worth of homeless children for every primary school www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"The lesson Reeves will take from the HMRC release is that the rich did not run. But it should also be that knowing what the rich are doing with their wealth is politically useful"
Great piece from @hollies.bsky.social of @neweconomics.bsky.social www.newstatesman.com/politics/eco...
Great piece from @hollies.bsky.social of @neweconomics.bsky.social www.newstatesman.com/politics/eco...
Rachel Reeves was right about non-doms
And the right-wing press was wrong.
www.newstatesman.com
August 15, 2025 at 12:10 PM
"The lesson Reeves will take from the HMRC release is that the rich did not run. But it should also be that knowing what the rich are doing with their wealth is politically useful"
Great piece from @hollies.bsky.social of @neweconomics.bsky.social www.newstatesman.com/politics/eco...
Great piece from @hollies.bsky.social of @neweconomics.bsky.social www.newstatesman.com/politics/eco...
Reposted by Tom Pollard
NEW RESEARCH: The richest households in England will be eight times more likely to benefit from the government’s expanded programme of funded childcare hours. 1/8
July 31, 2025 at 11:25 AM
NEW RESEARCH: The richest households in England will be eight times more likely to benefit from the government’s expanded programme of funded childcare hours. 1/8
Reposted by Tom Pollard
A pretty hefty piece of @neweconomics.bsky.social analysis out today by me & @pollardtom.bsky.social, in collaboration with @jrf-uk.bsky.social, on the problems with free hours-based childcare system Labour inherited - & case for a more progressive alternative 👇[1/]
neweconomics.org/2025/07/the-...
neweconomics.org/2025/07/the-...
The Universal Family Childcare Promise
Guaranteeing support for parents and children
neweconomics.org
July 31, 2025 at 12:37 PM
A pretty hefty piece of @neweconomics.bsky.social analysis out today by me & @pollardtom.bsky.social, in collaboration with @jrf-uk.bsky.social, on the problems with free hours-based childcare system Labour inherited - & case for a more progressive alternative 👇[1/]
neweconomics.org/2025/07/the-...
neweconomics.org/2025/07/the-...
"We don’t cancel weddings months out because there’s a chance of drizzle - we shouldn’t restructure fiscal policy purely on the basis of a single number we know to be, at very best, an informed guess"
Really helpful contribution from @andymacnaemp.bsky.social www.newstatesman.com/politics/eco...
Really helpful contribution from @andymacnaemp.bsky.social www.newstatesman.com/politics/eco...
The OBR is always wrong
Making economic policy by forecast is driving Britain in circles.
www.newstatesman.com
July 14, 2025 at 11:48 AM
"We don’t cancel weddings months out because there’s a chance of drizzle - we shouldn’t restructure fiscal policy purely on the basis of a single number we know to be, at very best, an informed guess"
Really helpful contribution from @andymacnaemp.bsky.social www.newstatesman.com/politics/eco...
Really helpful contribution from @andymacnaemp.bsky.social www.newstatesman.com/politics/eco...