On this episode: Celebrating ADHD Awareness Month, episode 2! I speak to Mel Heaton (2nd Year Operating Department Practice student) about everything ADHD. Female misdiagnosis, her most impactful University strategies and her experiences with having an ADHD lecturer.

"Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects people's behaviour. People with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating and may act on impulse. People with ADHD may also have additional problems, such as sleep and anxiety disorders” (NHS, 2021).

However, there is good news too!

“Conversely, there are benefits, people with ADHD who have hyperactivity as a symptom of ADHD have high energy levels. They often experience hyperfocus, which involves becoming intensely focused on a particular task or subject. Creativity, research has connected that people with ADHD are highly creative they also tend to be divergent thinkers. People with ADHD are often exciting, fun and courageous due to their spontaneity (as called ‘impulsiveness’. Lastly, it is noted that they have a higher degree of resilience, coping well in urgent and emergency situations” (ADHD Foundation UK, 2022; Sedgwick, Merwood & Asherson, 2019).

On this Podcast!

We are so grateful for Mel, for sharing her personal experiences and being courageous in disclosing her ADHD. Mel talks candidly about life with the condition, the apparent inequality, and mis diagnosis in females with ADHD, and what strategies we have worked together, as learner and educator, to get Mel's life more comfortable and full of acceptance for who she is!

Guide for students: Getting support from the University!

There are lots of individualised strategies that I cannot take credit for so PLEASE look at all the links below and see what can help you get the support you need to succeed! (see the active web links at the bottom of this page to get some excellent resources that are credible and evidence based.

Listening externally, or not a student? Then this is still for you!

Are you a fresher student? A newly diagnosed with ADHD? Or wondering if you have the condition. If you are an academic, healthcare professional, or an educator, listed away there are some excellent and insightful listening that will inform and inspire!
Contacts

Ryan Baddeley (student inclusion officer): email ryan.baddeley@staffs.ac.uk

Student Inclusion Team (Staffordshire University students and staff only).
https://www.staffs.ac.uk/students/support/student-inclusion-team/home

Ben Woodrow-Hirst (Lecturer: Staffs School of Health Science and Wellbeing, ODP team)
(Twitter (X)) @benw_h
Mel Heaton (Twitter (X)) @Missybro
Rachel Stuart (Twitter (X)) @AnimateRach

Web links from the show

Eric Tivers: “ADHD rewired” (Search for on iTunes Podcast, Spotify or other podcast providers) Coaching advice, strategies, community, Monthly Q&A.
https://www.adhdrewired.com/

Conner, A. and Brown, J. (2022) ‘Adult ADHD and higher education: improving the student experience’. The Times Higher Education.
Adult ADHD and higher education: improving the student experience | THE Campus Learn, Share, Connect (timeshighereducation.com)


UK Adult ADHD Network (2022) ‘University students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a consensus statement from the UK Adult ADHD Network (UKAAN)’. BMC Psychiatry.
University students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a consensus statement from the UK Adult ADHD Network (UKAAN) | BMC Psychiatry | Full Text (biomedcentral.com)


Jessica McCabe “HowtoADHD” (also on youtube).
Home - How To ADHD

The ADHD Foundation UK (charity) Main website (Resources, support, literature help guides). Home - ADHD Foundation : ADHD Foundation

ADHD Foundation UK (2021) ‘The World Federation of ADHD International Consensus Statement: 208 Evidence-based conclusions about the disorder’
The World Federation of ADHD International Consensus Statement: 208 Evidence-based conclusions about the disorder (adhdfoundation.org.uk)

“HowToADHD” Jessical McCabe : 5 Tips to Make Assertive Communication Easier and More Effective (YouTube video). https://youtu.be/vlwmfiCb-vc?si=WTzVkDTNAaUEq4w0

Sedgwick JA, Merwood A, Asherson P. (2019) ‘The positive aspects of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a qualitative investigation of successful adults with ADHD’.The positive aspects of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a qualitative investigation of successful adults with ADHD - PubMed (nih.gov)

Attoe D E. & Climie E. A. , 2023 'Miss. Diagnosis: A Systematic Review of ADHD in Adult Women' - (sagepub.com)
Miss. Diagnosis: A Systematic Review of ADHD in Adult Women - Darby E. Attoe, Emma A. Climie, 2023 (sagepub.com)

Rene Brooks “Black Girl Lost Keys” person with ADHD, advocate especially from the female perspective)
The Ultimate ADHD Guide - 10 Steps To Master Your ADHD (blackgirllostkeys.com)

NHS: Conditions- about ADHD.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/

Wellbeing/Mental Health Support contacts

If you are a student of staff member at Staffordshire University and have been affected by any of the topics that have been discussed in this podcast, don’t struggle alone, Staffordshire University are here to help… contact Wellbeing Support on 01782 294976 or by emailing studentwellbeing@staffs.ac.uk.

For our external listeners, mental health crisis lines and suicide prevention, please reach out and use the links below.

NHS Mental Health Services: Where to get help
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/


Upcoming podcasts

Inspirational People: Nick Brown, The Physicians Associate in Anaesthesia (PAA) an ODP’s first years reflections. Dealing with death in different cultures

Student Perspectives: Being a single parent and a student.

Want to get involved?

We have a state of the art Podcast room, but can pod with you remotely from the comfort of your home/office.

Are you a student? Member of staff? A HealthCare worker? Do you have a topic you would like to share? Get in touch! Let's Pod!

Contact The Link podcast team:

e-mail:
Ben Woodrow-Hirst ben.woodrow-hirst@staffs.ac.uk
Samuel O’Brian: