Giving young people the space to talk and access to support can help prevent high achievers from falling behind.
This article is the fourth in a series on youth mental health, co-authored by adolescent development researcher Kathryn Bates and young people with experience of mental illness. The message and format of each article was determined by the young person co-author and is based on both lived experience and research findings.
Alma* was a high achiever in school. She kept her head down, didn’t interrupt class, and did well in exams. The adults around her did not know that she had depression and would later be diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). ADHD is characterised by symptoms such as inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity and must persist for more than six months before a diagnosis is made. ADHD rarely occurs in isolation and almost half of people with ADHD are also diagnosed with psychological problems.
Globally, around 5% of children are diagnosed with ADHD, but many more are yet to be diagnosed or are waiting to be assessed. In the UK, children can wait up to five years for an ADHD assessment. Because ADHD begins around the age of 10, children who need support cannot be left unattended.
