October is ADHD Awareness Month, and this year it feels more urgent than ever to cut through the noise and confront the misinformation that continues to circulate, especially on social media, about what ADHD really is and how deeply it affects people’s lives.
Too often, the condition is trivialised or misunderstood, dismissed as a passing trend or a behavioural quirk. These narratives are inaccurate and can be harmful. They reinforce stigma, delay diagnosis, and deny people the support they desperately need.
ADHD UK defines ADHD as “a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity–impulsivity that interferes with day-to-day functioning and development.” It is one of the most under-diagnosed, under-treated and under-supported conditions in the UK.
Despite this reality, NHS Digital have estimated that around 2.5 million people in England have ADHD as of August 2025. This includes those without a formal diagnosis and is based on prevalence data from NICE who suggest that around 3 to 4% of adults and 5% of children and young people have ADHD.
The cost of not properly supporting people with ADHD is immense for both individuals living with ADHD, and society as a whole. But behind the clinical definition and statistics are real people, children struggling in classrooms, adults battling to hold down jobs or dealing with addiction, and families navigating a system that is broken at every level.
In Leigh and Atherton, I hear from constituents every week about the challenges they face regarding support for people with neurodiversity, including ADHD. Parents tell me about the years-long waits for assessments for their struggling child, the lack of local service support, and the frustration of being bounced between departments with no clear pathway to help.
Adults share stories of being misdiagnosed or dismissed entirely, left to manage their symptoms without medication or guidance. The truth is, while some claim ADHD is over-diagnosed, the reality is quite the opposite. Most children and adults in the UK are vastly under-diagnosed, and even when a diagnosis is made, the journey to treatment is often obstructed by long delays and limited resources.
However, understanding the problem is only the first step. We also need to see urgent, joined-up action from Government across departments – because ADHD doesn’t sit neatly in one box. It touches health, education, employment, and social care, and our response must reflect that.
Diagnosis alone is not a cure. It is an important first step, but without ongoing support, inclusive education, and access to treatment, it cannot deliver the change people need. If measures of support and inclusivity were in place in education settings, parents would not be so desperate to chase diagnosis. We need to change that, and we have a chance through the Government’s curriculum review, where inclusive learning, regardless of different abilities, is afforded to all children.
An inclusive education is essential for some but beneficial for all!
In Parliament, I’ve been working hard to raise awareness and build support across all Departments to drive meaningful change. As Chair of the newly launched All-Party Parliamentary Group on ADHD, I’m proud to be leading a cross-party effort to push the ADHD agenda forward.
Just this week, I hosted a screening drop-in session with ADHD 360, giving MPs the chance to experience the diagnostic process first-hand and hear directly from clinicians and advocates. Through a simple online questionnaire, Members were asked to reflect on focus, mood, and the everyday hurdles that so often go unseen.
The response was overwhelming. Parliamentarians from all sides of the House turned up in force. So many, in fact, we could barely fit them all in the room! That sheer turnout speaks volumes. This issue resonates, and it demands our attention. But chaos aside, it was an engaging, effective and powerful event, and just the beginning of what I hope will be a transformative mission to make meaningful change on a national level. Change that aims to bring clarity, compassion, and make a real difference to how we understand and support neurodiversity across the UK.
Throughout the next few years, the APPG will focus on ways we can work with Government, cross-Party and organisations to accelerate access to diagnosis and treatment, improve data collection, and make sure ADHD is considered in wider policy areas such as education, employment, and the justice system. We’re also working to build strategic partnerships with other neurodiversity APPGs.
Recent comments from senior politicians have made it clear how much work still needs to be done. For example, at the Conservative Party Conference earlier this month, Party leader Kemi Badenoch suggested that people with ADHD don’t deserve mobility support. By downplaying and dismissing ADHD, it reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of the condition and the systems that are meant to support it. Eligibility for mobility assistance is based on need, not diagnosis, and those with ADHD often face significant barriers to daily functioning that warrant support. These kinds of statements are misinformed and damaging. Likewise, leader of the Reform Party Nigel Farage stated that the UK is “massively over diagnosing those with… other general behavioural disabilities. And I think we’re creating a class of victims in Britain that will struggle ever to get out of it.”
We must challenge these myths head-on. That means sharing accurate information about ADHD, educating the public about the importance of proper diagnosis and treatment, and amplifying the voices of those with lived experience. It also means recognising the critical role of medication and addressing the recent shortages that have left many without the support they rely on.
There is not enough understanding of how essential these treatments are, and that must change.
To help people reach their full potential, we must support them beyond diagnosis. This means with treatment that adapts, professionals who listen, and systems that work. That’s the thinking behind my commitment to delivering expert-led, patient-first support to everyone living with ADHD. I want to inspire more neurodivergent individuals to enter politics like myself, to modernise Parliament, and to build a society where ADHD is understood, respected, and supported.
This ADHD Awareness Month, we need to raise awareness of the reality but most importantly, we need to act.
I am committed to working with the Government and continuing to press Ministers to urgently take action. We need a streamlined, accessible diagnostic process, and we need treatment pathways that are consistent, compassionate and informed by lived experience.
By dismantling the stigma, challenging the misinformation, and building a future where every person with ADHD can access the care, understanding and opportunity they deserve, we lay the foundation for genuine support and inspire people with ADHD to live fully, confidently, and without barriers.
My work on this has begun, and there is so much more to come.
ADHD Awareness Month: “Time to Cut Through the Noise and Deliver Real Change”
