Parents guide ADHD and mental health

ADHD and mental health: Why is my child more likely to struggle?

Statistics It is an unfortunate fact that children with ADHD are more likely to experience mental health problems.

ADHD can affect different areas of the brain, which can make daily functioning more difficult and contribute towards the development of ill mental health

Affected brain areas Planning, controlling situations, understanding other people and problem solving have all been identified as areas of difficulty for children with ADHD. Experiencing these difficulties on a daily basis can become stressful, exhausting and overwhelming.

Self esteem The high levels of stress caused by daily frustration can become out of control and eventually lead anxiety and avoidance of particular tasks. Being unable to complete tasks and goals can have a negative effect on the child's self esteem and view of themselves and their abilities.

Difficulty sleeping The combination of low self esteem, daily stress and challenging experiences can ultimately lead to mental health problems. Many children with ADHD also experience difficulties with their sleep which can be another contributing factor.

ADHD and mental health: What can I do to help my child?

Create a routine For a child with ADHD becoming distracted and off task can be a common experience. Having a strict daily routine to follow can help your child to stay on track and gives them the best structure for reaching their goals.

Focus on environment and time When your child is engaging with a task make sure to have removed distractions and provided them with a tidy space. It can be useful to request your child is sat towards the front of a classroom, on their own desk if desired, away from windows. Also be sure to allow your child some extra time to complete tasks.

Know their ADHD inside out

Understanding and being knowledgable about ADHD can be a great help to your child. If you are aware of situations your child is likely to struggle with you can preplan strategies to help them manage these and make yourself available for support. For example children with ADHD often struggle with waiting, concentrating, following instructions and taking turns with peers. In these situations you can be there to guide and help them.

Break tasks down

Children with ADHD can feel overwhelmed and stressed by big tasks. In order to support with this and to boost concentration break typical daily tasks down into smaller, more manageable chunks. For example you could you could split homework/ revision into 20 minute chunks and break up meal times into shorter sessions

ADHD and mental health: Tips for supporting my child

1. Communication When giving your child instructions keep them simple and direct. Lots of information at once can be overwhelming and distracting from the instruction.

2.Create a timetable When setting up a routine with your child putting this into a timetable can help to remind them of which steps come next.

3. Support self-esteem Struggling with daily tasks and some social interaction can have a big impact on self esteem.

Low self esteem is linked to mental health difficulties so it is important to focus on boosting this. Look at the strategies below to see how you could help to improve your child's self esteem.

SELF-ESTEEM BOOSTERS Ask your child to write affirmations and stick them somewhere they will see everyday.

Praise your child for all their successes, including effort made even when they have been unsuccessful.

Encourage your child to spend time each day on activities they are good at, this can encourage positive thinking around the self.

Record your child successes, use rewards and certificates as acknowledgement of what they have achieved