Professor Peter Fonagy

Who Professor Peter Fonagy is

Professor Peter Fonagy CBE is a clinical psychologist and Professor of Contemporary Psychoanalysis and Developmental Science at University College London, where he heads the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences. He serves as the Government's National Clinical Advisor on Children and Young People's Mental Health, and from December 2025 has chaired the Health Secretary's independent clinical review into mental health, ADHD and autism services, with findings expected in summer 2026. Until September 2024 he was Chief Executive of the Anna Freud Centre, London, and now holds Honorary President status there. His research centres on early attachment relationships, mentalization, and the development of evidence-based psychological therapies for borderline personality disorder, self-harm and aggression. He has published over 500 scientific papers and is a Fellow of the British Academy, the Academy of Medical Sciences and the Academy of Social Sciences.

References for this biography

1. 1.Review launched into mental health, ADHD and autism services – GOV.UK — Confirms Fonagy as Chair of the independent review, his role as National Clinical Advisor on Children and Young People's Mental Health, and the review's scope and timeline.
2. 2.UCL academic to lead review into mental health, autism and ADHD services – UCL News — Confirms Fonagy's UCL affiliation and dual role as clinical psychologist and National Clinical Advisor.
3. 3.Professor Peter Fonagy CBE – NIHR ARC North Thames — Confirms current role as Head of UCL Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, National Clinical Advisor, visiting professorships, NIHR Senior Investigator appointments, NICE chairmanships, and fellowship honours.
4. 4.Academy Fellows recognised in King's 2024 Birthday Honours – Academy of Social Sciences — Confirms CBE awarded in King's 2024 Birthday Honours for services to mental health care for children and young people.
5. 5.Peter Fonagy awarded the British Academy's prestigious Wiley Prize in Psychology – Anna Freud — Confirms 2015 British Academy Wiley Prize and the development of mentalization-based treatment (MBT) with NICE guideline adoption.
6. 6.Anna Freud responds to review into mental health, autism and ADHD – Anna Freud — Confirms Fonagy was previously CEO of Anna Freud and now holds Honorary President role there.

Notable achievements

• Appointed Chair of the Government's independent clinical review into mental health, ADHD and autism services, launched by Health Secretary Wes Streeting in December 2025. Source ↗
• Awarded CBE in the King's 2024 Birthday Honours for services to mental health care for children and young people. Source ↗
• In 2015, became the first UK recipient of the British Academy Wiley Prize for Outstanding Achievements in Psychology by an international scholar. Source ↗
• Co-developed mentalization-based treatment (MBT) for borderline personality disorder, now incorporated into NICE guidelines (CG78). Source ↗
• Appointed twice as a Senior Investigator by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Source ↗
• Chaired two NICE Guideline Development Groups and chaired the Outcomes Measurement Reference Group at the Department of Health. Source ↗

What Professor Peter Fonagy has said

• “I am in awe of their courage. Young people are contending with more powerful forces than I ever faced. They are not fragile. They are outnumbered.”

  Author of mammoth review of mental health conditions, autism and ADHD in England · Mental health · 9 Oct 2026 · No ‘snowflakes’: mental health review says today’s youth have it harder and harms are real ↗

• “The rise in mental health problems is real, is affecting everyday functioning and cannot be explained by greater awareness alone.”

  Psychoanalyst and clinical psychologist at University College London · Mental health · 9 Oct 2026 · NHS at risk of ‘system failures’ as demand for ADHD and autism care soars, inquiry finds ↗

• “It was 'harder to be young' now partly due to economic uncertainty and the challenges of social media. He said the report showed the rise in mental health problems since the 1990s was real, with about one in four 16 to 24-year-olds struggling.”

  clinical psychologist and adviser to NHS England · Mental health · 4 Oct 2026 · Young people have it tough, says boss of Crewe charity Hope 4 More ↗

• “ADHD symptoms should not lead to automatic diagnosis”

  author of government review on ADHD · Mental health · 4 Oct 2026 · ADHD symptoms should not lead to automatic diagnosis, says review ↗

• “It's harder to be young now. They are a generation that has real serious challenges that I would not wish to have had when I was their age. Adults have let them down.”

  Lead author of Government-commissioned review into ADHD, autism and mental health · Mental health · 4 Oct 2026 · There is no ‘snowflake generation’, says author of mental health review ↗

• “This review will only be worthwhile if it is built on solid ground. We will examine the evidence with care - from research, from people with lived experience, and from clinicians working at the frontline of mental health, autism and ADHD services - to understand, in a grounded way, what is driving rising demand.”

  clinical psychologist and National Clinical Advisor on Children and Young People's Mental Health · Learning disability & autism · 30 Sept 2026 · Review launched into mental health, ADHD and autism services ↗

• “The review is examining the drivers of increasing demand and how government, the health system and wider public services can meet that demand more fairly and effectively.”

  eminent psychoanalyst and clinical psychologist, chair of independent review into mental health, ADHD and autism · Mental health · 30 Sept 2026 · Government to transform mental health care with new strategy ↗

• “Unmet needs, misdiagnosis and concerns about over-medicalisation can coexist in the same system”

  Government-commissioned review author · Learning disability & autism · 29 Sept 2026 · Two-year waiting times highlight NHS struggle with rise in ADHD and autism awareness ↗

• “Fonagy's report raises serious concerns about the sector, especially about the consistency and quality of the assessments it provides and the fact that there are "financial incentives associated with assessment activity".”

  Led government-commissioned review · NHS waiting lists · 29 Sept 2026 · NHS bodies in England impose two-year minimum wait for ADHD and autism assessments ↗

• “A final report by the clinical psychologist Prof Peter Fonagy is expected soon and will inform a new national approach.”

  clinical psychologist · Mental health · 29 Sept 2026 · An autism or ADHD diagnosis without access to treatment is a hollow outcome | Letter ↗

• “The mental health strategy will be informed by the upcoming recommendations from Professor Peter Fonagy's independent review into prevalence and support for mental health conditions, ADHD and autism.”

  Independent reviewer of prevalence and support for mental health conditions, ADHD and autism · Mental health · 29 Sept 2026 · Major expansion of community mental health support across England | Department of Health and Social Care ↗

• “There had been a real rise in mental distress among children and young people, with anxiety, depression, self-harm and eating disorders the most common. It's harder to be young now given the economic and employment uncertainty young people face, coupled with the challenges presented by social media.”

  clinical psychologist and adviser to NHS England · Mental health · 29 Sept 2026 · Young people aren't snowflakes - mental distress is rising, says head of official review ↗

• “It's harder to be young now”

  Professor · Mental health · 29 Sept 2026 · Government told ‘urgent’ action needed to tackle young people’s mental health crisis ↗

• “The strategy will be informed by recommendations from Professor Peter Fonagy's independent review examining mental health conditions, ADHD and autism, as well as the support available to those affected.”

  conducting independent review examining mental health conditions, ADHD and autism · Mental health · 8 Sept 2026 · Major NHS mental health service overhaul ↗

• “We will examine the evidence with care – from research, from people with lived experience and from clinicians working at the frontline of mental health, autism and ADHD services – to understand, in a grounded way, what is driving rising demand.”

  clinical psychologist at University College London specialising in child mental health · Mental health · 27 Aug 2026 · Wes Streeting orders review of mental health diagnoses as benefit claims soar ↗

• “Last December, we asked clinical psychologist Professor Peter Fonagy to lead an independent review, examining the prevalence of - and support for - ADHD, autism, and mental health conditions.”

  Clinical psychologist leading independent review · Hospital discharge / bed-blocking · 27 Aug 2026 · Autism and ADHD care complaints more than triple in five years in England ↗

Where Professor Peter Fonagy has been quoted

1. NHS England mental health services review: what has it found and what does it recommend?theguardian.com · 9 Oct 2026
2. No ‘snowflakes’: mental health review says today’s youth have it harder and harms are realtheguardian.com · 9 Oct 2026
3. NHS at risk of ‘system failures’ as demand for ADHD and autism care soars, inquiry findstheguardian.com · 9 Oct 2026
4. Young people have it tough, says boss of Crewe charity Hope 4 Morebbc.com · 4 Oct 2026
5. ADHD symptoms should not lead to automatic diagnosis, says reviewthetimes.com · 4 Oct 2026
6. There is no ‘snowflake generation’, says author of mental health reviewindependent.co.uk · 4 Oct 2026
7. Review launched into mental health, ADHD and autism servicesgov.uk · 30 Sept 2026
8. Government to transform mental health care with new strategygov.uk · 30 Sept 2026
9. Two-year waiting times highlight NHS struggle with rise in ADHD and autism awarenesstheguardian.com · 29 Sept 2026
10. NHS bodies in England impose two-year minimum wait for ADHD and autism assessmentstheguardian.com · 29 Sept 2026
11. An autism or ADHD diagnosis without access to treatment is a hollow outcome | Lettertheguardian.com · 29 Sept 2026
12. Major expansion of community mental health support across England | Department of Health and Social Carewired-gov.net · 29 Sept 2026
13. Young people aren't snowflakes - mental distress is rising, says head of official reviewbbc.co.uk · 29 Sept 2026
14. Government told ‘urgent’ action needed to tackle young people’s mental health crisisindependent.co.uk · 29 Sept 2026
15. Major NHS mental health service overhaulnationalhealthexecutive.com · 8 Sept 2026
16. Wes Streeting orders review of mental health diagnoses as benefit claims soartheguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026
17. Autism and ADHD care complaints more than triple in five years in Englandtheguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026

Related media coverage

Recent UK press coverage of their topics — not necessarily citing them directly.

• One Year On: How The Royal Foundation is strengthening suicide prevention support in the UKRoyal Foundation
• Norwich City teams up with The Royal Foundation to support suicide preventionNorwich City Football Club
• Licensable picture: The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention hosted its annual Out of the Darkness Walk on Oct. 10 in Staunton's Gypsy HillReuters Connect

Contact & links

• Staff pagehttps://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/7792-peter-fonagy
• LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-fonagy-b5801666/
• Websitehttps://arc-nt.nihr.ac.uk/about-us/who-we-are/professor-peter-fonagy-cbe/

Organisational contact points only, each taken from a page the organisation publishes itself. No personal or direct contact details are held or shown.