# Families wait years for autism diagnosis as mental health deteriorates

Families in the UK are facing waits of several years for an autism diagnosis, with one relative saying a child's mental health deteriorated during the delay. The backlog leaves children without support at a critical stage of development. The case highlights growing pressure on underfunded assessment services.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### Health
- [The Guardian Health](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/sep/24/her-mental-health-deteriorated-family-forced-to-wait-years-for-autism-diagnosis) — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 17:39:17 GMT
- [BBC Health](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwe9eyj4gpgzo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss) — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 04:57:25 GMT