Give my child a label: Strategies of epistemic corroboration in case-building within child mental health assessments

Child mental health services are in risingdemand, but increasingly overstretched and difficult for families to access. This article examines rhetorical techniques used by parents seeking a mental health diagnosis for their child. Using recordings of consultationsfrom a child mental health clinic(UK)with 28 families, analysis focuseson the use of ‘epistemic corroboration’, a strategy by which third party candidate diagnoses are reportedto supportthe parents’ case. That is, parents draw upon the expertise of non-present professional persons to strengthen their proposed diagnostic claims. Conversation analysis showshowthis epistemic corroboration isreportedby parents andreceivedby mental health practitioners.Conclusions illustrate that mental health diagnosis for children is actively pursued by parents as they navigate labelling. This has implications for understanding the dilemmas created for families of possible medicalisation of their child to achieve thelevels of supportbeing sought.