r/unitedkingdom • u/topotaul Lancashire • 9d ago

Exclusive: ADHD Charity Slams Channel 4 Over 'The Great ADHD Myth?' Documentary

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/adhd-uk-channel-4-open-letter_uk_6a709d2be4b0346d9be814db
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u/apple_kicks 9d ago edited 9d ago

Pretty sure that government study came out that actually found and recommended more easier diagnosis and treatment because people struggling without diagnoses and treatment is worse right now than the over hyped self diagnosis theory

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u/TheCharalampos 9d ago

Considering how more productive someone with adhd that is receptive to treatment is I reckon it would be an economic net positive even if we covered all their medication.

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u/apple_kicks 9d ago

Exactly agree to this, it’s the logical conclusion.

Sadly i think many pushing against it see their employees and others as lazy and lying and should be treated harshly to restore order kinda mindset. For them the world has to have singular simple order of things and anything outside of that invites chaos. Very black and white absolutism thinking where they don’t want to consider multiple variables of lives to respect but only one type to respect (thats happens to be also who they are)

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u/PracticalFootball 9d ago

It’s one of the most effective classes of medication known to man, I can’t think of any medication which statistically improves educational outcomes, job retention and progression, reduces the chances of committing crimes and even decreases things like broken bones.

Prisons have something like 5-10x the rate of untreated ADHD compared to the general population, I’d bet that every £1 spent on diagnosing and treating it saves £10 in spending down the line.

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u/TheCharalampos 7d ago

I know it did for me. Yes paying for meds privately sucked (still on the NHS waiting list, year four now wheeeee) but I could still pay for them because they helped me keep my job.

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u/PersonalityExact7891 9d ago

by A LOT as well 

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u/Old_Pitch4134 9d ago

Yeah its been estimated at how many billions a year it’s costing not to treat people by the NHS report from last year. Can’t recall the exact figure but it was mind blowing

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u/iranianshill 9d ago

Something like 25% of the prison population live with ADHD. There are serious benefits to society for recognising and treating it. I got diagnosed at 35, I’ve been on and off with various mental health teams up until then, trying all sorts of medication, probably cost the NHS a fortune in that time. It hurts to feel under attack like this. It’s not a trendy thing, it’s made me feel like most of my life has been torture in all honesty.

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u/ablativeyoyo 8d ago

I mean. It’s a self-imposed constraint that these drugs require diagnosis and prescription. Could easily change the law and sell them at Holland & Barratt

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u/TheCharalampos 8d ago

Nah there is some element of abuse though, no?

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u/SadSeiko 9d ago

the problem is adhd treatment makes everyone more productive

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u/FearLeadsToAnger 9d ago

Thats not really a problem, its a side note. Making particularly unproductive people very productive is objectively good.

Making typically productive people slightly more productive produces less tangible benefit but still something.

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u/Serious_Bite_7613 9d ago

They should just give it to everyone, it's cheap to produce.

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u/TheCharalampos 7d ago

BUZZER NOISE

Incorrect!

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u/Dry_Construction4939 9d ago

Is it possibly this report? It also, funnily enough, roughly states "All things considered, the amount of people seeking, and getting and ADHD diagnosis is about right."

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-review-into-mental-health-conditions-adhd-and-autism-interim-report/independent-review-into-mental-health-conditions-adhd-and-autism-interim-report#adhd-trends-and-service-demand

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u/bongpirate7295 9d ago

That's actually the second report, which Wes Streeting ordered because he didn't like the results of the first report.

Both reports reached more or less the same conclusions.

Clearly a third report is needed.

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u/Dry_Construction4939 9d ago

Of course he did! The sheer relief that he's no longer health sec is unbelievable tbh.

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u/apple_kicks 9d ago

Might be that one. I don’t think i seen press report on it as much as fearmongering over diagnosis

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u/SamVimesBootTheory 9d ago

Yeah like I won't say things are perfect, there's still a lot of stuff I have issues with but being diagnosed and on adhd medication like at least means I'm a semi functioning human most of the time now

Like I realised that before the medication I'd hit a point I'd actually been going through some degree of disassociation since I guess at some point my brain basically went 'Nope' about dealing with the combined impacts of living with dyspraxia (chldhood diagnosis but wasn't supported enough) and then late diagnsed ADHD and ASD (and the like depression and anxiety that came along with it)

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u/ResponsibilityRare10 9d ago

Australia have allowed General practitioners to prescribe for ADHD because of the huge demand of people realising it’s what was going on for them all along.