A quick guide to ADHD | Resources

Topic:: Practical tools for support, Mental health conditions

For:: Schools, Community support, Youth workers

This resource covers:

The purpose of this guide is to provide an overview of ADHD for those working with young people in the community.

ADHD and mental health

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects behaviour and concentration. It’s not a mental illness or learning disability, but having ADHD may mean that a young person faces extra challenges that make them vulnerable to low self-esteem, anxiety or depression.

Symptoms, diagnosis and medical support for ADHD

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Everyone is individual and not everyone will be affected by ADHD in the same way. Age and gender, for example, can affect how someone with ADHD behaves. This can make it harder to spot signs of ADHD, particularly in girls, who are more likely to be undiagnosed or wrongly diagnosed with other conditions.

Younger children may typically display some of these traits – or similar behaviours can follow a traumatic experience – but this doesn’t necessarily mean the young person has ADHD. Similarly, symptoms usually improve with age, but without a diagnosis some young people and young adults may struggle without support.

A child or young person with ADHD may:

be easily distracted and find it difficult to start or finish tasks
find it difficult to concentrate
often become restless or fidgety
be very talkative, often interrupting or blurting things out
be impulsive e.g. act before considering the consequences or be prone to taking risks
get easily angry or frustrated and struggle to deal with emotions
find making or maintaining friendships difficult
be disorganised, for instance often losing things or being late
lack an awareness of time

Although symptoms often start young, a diagnosis may be made later in childhood, adolescence or adulthood. A young person is diagnosed through an ADHD assessment, usually with CAMHS if they are under 18 years old, or another trained professional. The referral for an assessment comes from a young person’s GP, or self-referral in England.

Medical support is usually through one or a mix of talking therapies and medication. There may also be parenting support available to parents of children with ADHD.

There are other ways of managing ADHD that some people with the condition find helpful, including changes to diet. However, the NHS recommend these should not be attempted without medical advice.

How to support the mental health of a young person with ADHD or possible ADHD

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If you work with a young person with ADHD, it's important to offer continued support as they learn to manage their condition. This could include:

encouraging them with routines or life-style changes they have put in place
helping them talk to their parents/carers about any changes as a result of their ADHD diagnosis or any worries they have about medication and/or medical support they may like
helping them access local ADHD support groups

Take a look at our tips below on how best to offer continued support.

Be aware

Be aware of the common traits and behaviours of ADHD.
Build trust

Build trust in a way the young person finds helpful. This could be through an activity rather than sitting and talking if they find that easier.
Consider the challenges

Be aware that the extra challenges a young person faces due to ADHD can make them more vulnerable to low self-esteem, anxiety or depression. Keep an eye out for changes in behaviour.
Listen

Show you are listening to what a young person is sharing with you, repeat back what you have heard to check your understanding and keep your body language open. Encourage them to talk about their feelings and emotions.
Share resources or information

Share resources or information about support that you think they may find helpful. For example, this mood battery resource was initially developed by a professional with ADHD to help manage her feelings throughout the day. However, please be mindful of misinformation online and on social media, and check all sources of advice.
Talk about seeking professional help

Getting professional support can help people with ADHD to better manage their symptoms. Talk to young people about exploring professional help from their GP, a mental health professional, or a specialist organisation.

A young Black woman talking about something serious with an older Black woman in the park.

More tips and advice

For more tips and advice on helping young people to get the right help, take a look at our guide which outlines the steps you can take to help a young person get support.

Supporting a young person to get help

Tips from our Activists

Our Activists share their advice for young people with ADHD to help them manage their mental health.

Create a routine for the day.
Set clear boundaries in your personal, school or professional life.
Reflect on the day and what you achieved – this can be as small as getting to school/work or getting through a lesson.
Find the best ways for you to cope in social situations.
Look into local support groups.
Recognise potential triggers that might make your symptoms worse; these will be unique to each person but could include being over-stimulated.

More information and advice

For more information on ADHD, read our guides and blogs for parents and young people.

Where to get more help

You can find more information and support for a young person with ADHD through these organisations.

ADHD UK

Information and resources on subjects including diagnosis, medication, education and employment, as well as online support groups.

ADHD UK
ADHD and You

Provides information and resources including medication details, tips for parents/carers and checklists for school and medical appointments.

ADHD and You
ADDISS

ADDISS (The National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service) provides information, moderated online forums and local support groups.

Advice line: Tuesday – Thursday, 9:30am -5pm

020 8952 2800

info@addiss.co.uk

ADDISS

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