Demand for ADHD Services in Kent skyrockets  by 600% - video Dailymotion

The surge in referrals follows this year's ADHD Awareness month.   Kristin Hawthorne reports.

Transcript

00:00There are nearly 14,000 adults in Kent waiting for an ADHD diagnosis, with some facing waits

00:06as long as seven years. The demand for adult ADHD services in Kent and Medway has surged

00:13by 600% over the past two years, with an 80% increase in referrals in the last 12 months.

00:21ADHD affects more people than we would think, and across Kent the waiting times for a diagnosis

00:26are only increasing. It can be a real struggle for those who deal with the disorder, and

00:31finding help can be even harder. But by raising awareness, these issues can become easier

00:37for those who are struggling.

00:38As a child growing up, I was seen as being inattentive and overstimulated and talkative,

00:45and I recognised that I had sensory issues, and I was always, I found that really irritating

00:52because I was like, God that's really annoying me, and I'm being distracted by other things.

00:55And I think sometimes the things that I can say, it damaged my self-esteem, because sometimes

01:01it would come across that I'm being stupid, or I'm not focused on the conversation that's

01:05happening. So I think growing up, and even now as an adult, having racing thoughts, having

01:11intrusive thoughts and impulsive behaviours, that can impact my self-esteem, and I think

01:16it did growing up.

01:17Kent's suicide rate is above the national average, and people with ADHD are a high risk

01:23group. In the UK, suicide rates for those with ADHD are striking. One in ten men and

01:29boys, and one in four women and girls.

01:33And so we do have adults with the condition, and people started to realise also who hadn't

01:38been diagnosed when they were a child, that they had the condition. So they've come forward

01:43and they've asked for diagnosis. And that rush of people coming in wanting to have diagnosis

01:49as an adult has ended up with an enormous number of referrals going forward, and of

01:53course that's put a lot of pressure on services to respond.

01:57With diagnosis waiting times only growing, many feel anxious and abandoned.

02:01One of the biggest struggles is the wait time, because once you've taken that initial leap

02:07of faith, it's like, is it actually going to be, am I going to be supported, is it going

02:12to be acted on? And I think that's what we're working really hard to ensure, that anybody

02:16that comes to us and asks for support, is that we're able to give them that.

02:21However, new plans in Kent aim to support neurodivergent children in primary schools,

02:26focusing on mental health, language and sensory development. With this early intervention,

02:32the problems that follow many adults now with the disorder may not affect the next generation

02:37in the same way.

02:38I think that's why it's so important for us to be able to raise awareness and support

02:42people from a much younger age to be able to have better outcomes, and especially women,

02:48because it is statistically that men are diagnosed younger than women.

02:54During this year's Awareness Month, it's important to remember that for those struggling,

02:58seeking support early is key. Although the demand is high, reaching out to your GP or

03:03organisations like North Kent Mind can help, because support is available even if it feels

03:08out of reach.

03:10Kristen Hawthorne, KMTV.