Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) information for young people, parents and carers
Strong evidence – there is lots of high-quality evidence that some young people find this treatment option helpful.
Your parents or carers should be offered information and support, which might be in a group with other parents and carers.
Information sessions should ideally involve whoever normally looks after you. Over one or two sessions the professional will give you and/or your parents or carers information on the causes and impact of ADHD and advice on how to support you. These sessions will be different depending on your age and any areas where you particularly need support. For example, information sessions for parents and carers of younger children will include more information on how ADHD might affect you at school and any adjustments you might need, while information sessions for older children and young people might include more information on supporting you with finding a job, driving and risky behaviours more common at that age.
You and your parents or carers will be asked whether you agree for your professional to contact your school, college or university to explain:
- your ADHD diagnosis;
- how it can affect life at school or college;
- whether you will need to take any medication at school;
- that any other physical or mental health conditions you might have are different from ADHD and might need different adjustments;
- your treatment plan and special educational needs, including advice on reasonable adjustments and environmental modifications;
- that feedback from them can be useful for you and your healthcare professionals.
This contact with schools should also happen if you change schools, or move from school to college or university, or if your ADHD symptoms change.
If you have another physical or mental health condition, your professional should ask for your consent to contact the other professionals who support you to explain your ADHD diagnosis, treatment plan and how the symptoms could affect your behaviour and treatment.
Treatments outlined on these webpages may not be available in every local area. It’s important that you discuss with your GP or mental health professional the treatment options available to you. You can also search for services near you on our Youth Wellbeing Directory and find out more about referral processes here.