Report into lived experience of ADHD

Our collaboration with The Centre for Mental Health to explore the lived experiences of those affected by ADHD, surfaced some stark realities. We heard first-hand accounts of how this condition tears into people’s lives affecting their education, careers, finances, relationships and mental health. And only an estimated 1 in 9 people with ADHD have a formal diagnosis.

As a specialist treatment service for men facing suicidal crisis, we at James’ Place are especially aware of how neurodivergent conditions such as ADHD can disproportionately affect men and their propensity to feel suicidal. This is especially true when the men we treat have had to navigate societal systems that are unsympathetic and unsupportive to neurodivergence.

We cannot leave the hundreds of thousands of people currently on multi-year waiting lists without support to manage their conditions, not to mention the far greater number of people with ‘hidden’ ADHD who have not explored a diagnosis whose struggles will remain unrecognised and underserved.

Our report makes some clear policy asks:

• Implement the recommendations set out in the ADHD Taskforce’s report (2025) with a Government strategy on ADHD action
• Act now on preventing ADHD negatively impacting people’s lives by setting clearer expectations on standards of mental health support for young people with suspected ADHD through the Children and Young People’s Modern Service Framework
• Have the Government’s forthcoming Mental Health Strategy take action across public services to prevent mental health issues among people with ADHD
• Incentivise funders to support research into strategies that support the mental health needs of people with ADHD

Read the report in full.