ADHD, masking and late diagnosis | Mentally Healthy Schools

About this resource

In this 4-minute film, Debbie shares her experience of growing up with ADHD and receiving a diagnosis later in life. She explains the difficulties she faced at school before her diagnosis and the impact of masking her ADHD.

Debbie is a member of ADHD Babes, a support group for Black women and Black non-binary people of African-Caribbean descent with ADHD. Her story highlights how ADHD can go unrecognised, particularly for girls and young women, and the importance of greater awareness within schools and communities.

Using this resource

This resource is designed for:

education staff in post-16 settings
use with students aged 16+ as part of a facilitated discussion.

Please note: films exploring children and young people’s mental health and neurodiversity may feel sensitive for some viewers. You may wish to watch in advance to prepare for discussion or consider what support may be helpful.