Research Participants Required: ADHD, Self Harm and Suicidality

By Chloe Webster-Harris (Research Project Coordinator)

When people think of ADHD, they often picture a fidgety schoolboy who can’t sit still. But ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is so much more than that. It’s a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that affects attention, focus, energy levels, and emotions. And for many people, especially adults, it’s something that goes unnoticed or is misunderstood for years, especially for those who self harm and engage in suicidal behaviours.

Here in the Harmless Research Team, we’re working with the University of Nottingham to explore the prevalence and experiences of ADHD individuals who have been misdiagnosed or late diagnosed, and have experienced self harm, suicidal thoughts/behaviours, and have been in contact with crisis services.

Research suggests that around 2–5% of adults have ADHD in the general population, but that number rises to 10–20% among people already accessing mental health services. These figures are conservative, and the true prevalence is likely to be higher. Despite this, ADHD is still under-recognised, particularly in those who don’t fit the stereotype.

For example, women, trans, and gender-diverse people are often overlooked. Many who self harm or use substances are instead given other diagnoses, like personality disorders. For years, countless women and trans people have been told they have Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD), also sometimes known as Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), only to later discover that they actually have ADHD, autism, or complex PTSD (C-PTSD).

It’s easy to see why mistakes happen. ADHD shares traits with other mental health conditions. For example, if someone is struggling with impulsivity, emotional overwhelm, and trouble concentrating, doctors may see depression, anxiety, or bipolar symptoms and treat those instead of digging deeper. Dealing with unrecognised ADHD may also cause conditions such as depression and anxiety. On top of that, there are huge inequalities in diagnosis, with people from global majority backgrounds far less likely to be accurately identified or supported.

Getting the right diagnosis matters. When ADHD is missed, people can spend years struggling with self harm, substance use, depression, or suicidal thoughts without understanding why they feel this way. Misdiagnosis delays effective support and can push people into the wrong kinds of treatment altogether.

This research is close to my heart because it’s my story too. I spent my twenties in and out of services, battling self harm and suicidality, while being given diagnosis after diagnosis. Doctor after doctor told me I had EUPD, PTSD, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety… but never considered ADHD. It wasn’t until I turned 30 that someone finally joined the dots and I was diagnosed with ADHD and autism. Getting the right diagnosis and the right treatment changed everything.

Now, we want to hear from others with similar experiences.

If you’re 18 or over, have lived experience of self harm, suicidality, or using crisis services, and have been misdiagnosed or diagnosed with ADHD later in life, we’d love to speak with you.

We’re offering one-to-one interviews, online, over the phone, or in person – whatever feels most comfortable for you. We’ll talk about your experiences of the diagnostic process, how misdiagnosis or late diagnosis affected your mental health, and what support you received (or still need).

If you’d like to take part, please get in touch at research@harmless.org.uk.

By sharing your story, you’ll be helping to shine a light on an issue that’s been hidden for far too long. We’re hoping this research will help make ADHD diagnosis fairer, kinder, and more accurate for everyone.