ADHD Awareness Month: Why Awareness is Key to understanding and supporting Individuals with ADHD

This month is ADHD awareness month, and this year’s theme is ‘Awareness is Key’. Awareness in the general sense asks participants to acknowledge the subject manner as an isolated instance, bringing the topic to prevalence. This theme, however, asks you to draw your attention to the subject and challenges you to gain a better understanding. It has been predicted that 3-4% of UK adults and 2-5% of school children have ADHD; this rise in prevalence can be attributed to the increase in awareness. This, among many other reasons, highlights the need for awareness surrounding symptoms and signs of ADHD.

Traditionally, it was assumed that ADHD displayed itself in ways such as short attention span, restlessness and lack of focus. Though those often present all of these traits with ADHD, there is an array of behaviours individuals experience. Awareness is critical to the support of those with ADHD, and understanding the full spectrum of experiences is not just beneficial, it’s necessary. It can help individuals explain how they are feeling and why they are reacting in specific ways. We are on a path to gaining a better understanding of ADHD, and it’s important that we include all experiences in this journey. There is still a cascade of information being unveiled each day; individuals discover another piece of the puzzle regarding associated health conditions and behaviour patterns.

Awareness can be gained in many ways, the best way is by asking individuals about their experience. This way of gaining awareness can also be helpful for those with ADHD as it allows them to understand the experiences of others as well as potentially gain more insight into their thoughts and feelings. Although this method gives us the best insight from the personal perspective of the individual, it should only be done in a safe and comfortable environment and not at all if the person has expressed discomfort in talking about their experience.

This month is not only a time to gain awareness about ADHD; it is also a time to celebrate those who have ADHD. There is no doubt that ADHD is challenging and can present itself in negative ways. However, there are also so many strengths presented. Many great people presently and in history have an ADHD diagnosis, including Bill Gates, Richard Branson, Simone Biles and Albert Einstein. ADHD is a superpower that enables many people to create and invent beautiful things and inspire others to do the same.

Happy ADHD awareness month!