Hi ADHDers! This a very impromptu newsletter from me! But I needed to write my thoughts about the new BBC documentary ‘Private ADHD clinics exposed’. Spoiler alert: there are many things wrong with the documentary. Shall we begin? For context, the documentary follows a journalist that goes undercover to pursue an ADHD diagnosis via 3 private clinics and the UK National Health Service (NHS). He claims he does not have ADHD but ticks all of the ADHD symptoms via the assessment to show that thorough checks aren’t been done.
Excellent post. I published a piece about the BBC’s investigation earlier today. It’s tantamount to journalistic malpractice and everyone involved should feel ashamed.
I read the article on it and it irritated me so much. I'm lucky I am in the US and it is relatively easy to get diagnosed assuming you have insurance. But I went to someone who said he assumed you didn't and went from there. So it wasn't a guy passing out diagnoses willy nilly.
That said as a woman that wasn't diagnosed until she was in her mid to late thirties and knows that women are so under diagnosed I hate the stereotype that it is fad.
Yes if you weren't diagnosing many young girls for decades and suddenly the public is more aware of what it is there is going to be a surge in diagnoses.
I was alarmed by the repeated summary of this show on Radio 4's daily bulletin earlier this week.
Is it a coincidence that women and global ethnic majorities begin to seek and receive diagnosis and find support (nominally) and the condition is discredited?
Maybe that's not fair, but it winds me up. The last thing these communities who have missed diagnosis and support when it would have been most useful and life-changing, need is another shot of invalidation!
Thanks for the impromptu post. Sometimes they are the best ones for the ADHD brain!
This is really eye opening. I live in the U.S. and made an appointment with a psychiatrist who is covered by my insurance with not much effort. I was diagnosed with ADHD as a result of that appointment. Total cost to me was $20.
Thanks for sharing this. I believe I have ADHD and I want to seek a diagnosis. I have been debating whether to go to NHS or private for diagnosis. I’m not sure about going to NHS because of waiting time (and bad reports from ADHDers in my area) but this documentary definitely has put me off! I’m scared employers won’t take a private diagnosis seriously.
This programme has caused a major rift in my family. Between the privately diagnosed younger generation and the doubting and poorly informed older generation who foolishly trust the BBC. The harm just keeps on rippling outwards.
Excellent post. I published a piece about the BBC’s investigation earlier today. It’s tantamount to journalistic malpractice and everyone involved should feel ashamed.
I read the article on it and it irritated me so much. I'm lucky I am in the US and it is relatively easy to get diagnosed assuming you have insurance. But I went to someone who said he assumed you didn't and went from there. So it wasn't a guy passing out diagnoses willy nilly.
That said as a woman that wasn't diagnosed until she was in her mid to late thirties and knows that women are so under diagnosed I hate the stereotype that it is fad.
Yes if you weren't diagnosing many young girls for decades and suddenly the public is more aware of what it is there is going to be a surge in diagnoses.
I was alarmed by the repeated summary of this show on Radio 4's daily bulletin earlier this week.
Is it a coincidence that women and global ethnic majorities begin to seek and receive diagnosis and find support (nominally) and the condition is discredited?
Maybe that's not fair, but it winds me up. The last thing these communities who have missed diagnosis and support when it would have been most useful and life-changing, need is another shot of invalidation!
Thanks for the impromptu post. Sometimes they are the best ones for the ADHD brain!
This is really eye opening. I live in the U.S. and made an appointment with a psychiatrist who is covered by my insurance with not much effort. I was diagnosed with ADHD as a result of that appointment. Total cost to me was $20.
Great post! 🙌
All of this! Thank you for your breakdown!
Thanks for sharing this. I believe I have ADHD and I want to seek a diagnosis. I have been debating whether to go to NHS or private for diagnosis. I’m not sure about going to NHS because of waiting time (and bad reports from ADHDers in my area) but this documentary definitely has put me off! I’m scared employers won’t take a private diagnosis seriously.
This programme has caused a major rift in my family. Between the privately diagnosed younger generation and the doubting and poorly informed older generation who foolishly trust the BBC. The harm just keeps on rippling outwards.