Latest news with #youngpeople
CTV News
5 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Tough summer job market
Ottawa Watch Many young people say they're having a tough time finding a summer job in Ottawa. CTV's Kimberley Fowler reports.
E&E News
5 days ago
- Health
- E&E News
Youth sue Trump admin over efforts to ‘unleash' American fossil fuels
A coalition of young people is suing the Trump administration, charging that its executive-order-powered embrace of oil, gas and coal violates the Constitution by putting their health at risk. The lawsuit filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana alleges that a trio of President Donald Trump's energy-related executive orders that declare a 'national energy emergency' and direct agencies to 'unleash American energy' will worsen climate change and consequently violates the youths' Fifth Amendment right to life and liberty. The lawsuit, Lighthiser v. Trump, cites the administration's efforts to ramp up oil, gas and coal production across federal lands; block clean energy; suppress climate science research; and disregard laws passed by Congress aimed at preventing pollution and curbing climate change. Advertisement 'President Trump's executive orders falsely claim an energy emergency, while the true emergency is that fossil fuel pollution is destroying the foundation of plaintiffs' lives,' the lawsuit charges.
The Independent
5 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Almost 2.5m people in England likely to have ADHD, data shows
Almost 2.5 million people in England are likely to have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), figures suggest. It is the first time an estimate has been made publicly available of how common the condition may be among the population. ADHD is a neuro-developmental disorder and people with the condition may have trouble concentrating or sitting still. Other symptoms include being easily distracted, forgetfulness, finding it hard to follow instructions or organise time, and making impulsive decisions. According to NHS England, a total of 2,498,000 people may have ADHD, including those without a diagnosis. Of this number, an estimated 741,000 are children and young people aged five to 24. The figures were developed using estimates from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), which suggests that around 3-4% of adults and 5% of children and young people have ADHD. While ADHD is not usually diagnosed in children under five – as some traits can be part of typical development – prevalence in youngsters aged four and under have been calculated to give an insight into how many may go on to be diagnosed in the future. Some 147,000 under-fives are likely to have ADHD, according to the NHS estimates. The figures also suggest that more than half a million people (549,000) in England were waiting for an ADHD assessment at the end of March 2025. This is up from 416,000 a year earlier at the end of March 2024. Of the 549,000 likely to be waiting for ADHD assessment in March this year, some 304,000 had been waiting at least a year while 144,000 had been waiting at least two years. More than two-thirds (382,000) were aged between five and 24. Louise Ansari, chief executive at Healthwatch England, said the figures are 'a first step in understanding the scale of demand for ADHD care'. 'Our new research highlights that many people with ADHD may simply be going without support,' she added. 'Long waits for assessments are one of the reasons people who show ADHD traits don't seek help, while those waiting for an assessment struggle to navigate the long waits. 'While we welcome today's publication, however, there is a way to go to ensure data is comprehensive and robust. 'A move to official waiting list data in the longer term would give a clearer picture of waiting times, including who is experiencing the longest waits and why.' Estimates of how many adults in England are likely to be waiting for ADHD assessments is available dating back to 2019. They show the the number of people aged 25 and over who were waiting at the end of March was 165,000, more than 10 times the pre-pandemic figure of 16,000 at the end of December 2019. Comparable data for children and young adults is available only for the most recent 12 months and shows the number rose from an estimated 285,000 at the end of March 2024 to 384,000 at the end of March this year. Pippa Sargent, chief executive of The Brain Charity, said: 'It's a hugely positive step that more people are coming forward for ADHD assessments. This shows increasing awareness, self-advocacy and a shift in how society understands neurodiversity. 'It is important to remember that, despite its challenges, the condition brings with it many strengths that should be celebrated. 'But with up to 549,000 people now waiting, the scale of unmet need is alarming. Without urgent investment in diagnostic services and ongoing support, too many are being left to struggle alone.' An NHS spokesperson said: ' Patients are waiting too long for an ADHD assessment and diagnosis and that's why the NHS launched an independent taskforce to investigate the challenges facing services and help them manage the rising numbers of referrals, with support from across society. 'The ADHD taskforce will assess these important new figures and the best available evidence to inform its recommendations, bringing together those with lived experience and experts across a range of sectors to help find long-term solutions for patients.'
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
The shocking number of people who now have ADHD, revealed for the first time in official NHS figures
An estimated 2.5 million people in England are now living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to new NHS analysis Doctors have raised concerns in recent years about a surge in diagnoses—but this marks the first official estimate of how widespread the condition may be. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects concentration, impulse control and activity levels. Common symptoms include restlessness, distractibility, forgetfulness, difficulty following instructions or managing time, and making impulsive decisions. The new figures, published today by NHS England, were developed using data from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). These suggest that three and four per cent of adults and five per cent of children and young people have ADHD. This means a total of 2,498,000 people may have the condition, including those without a diagnosis. Of this number, an estimated 741,000 are children and young people aged five to 24. While ADHD is rarely diagnosed in children under five—as many symptoms can mirror typical development—NHS estimates suggest around 147,000 in this age group are likely to have the condition, offering insight into future diagnosis rates. The figures also show that more than 549,000 people in England were waiting for an ADHD assessment at the end of March 2025—up from 416,000 the previous year. Of those currently waiting for an assessment, around 304,000 had been waiting at least a year—and 144,000 for two years or more, as NHS services struggle to keep up with spiraling demand. More than two-thirds (382,000) were aged between five and 24. Louise Ansari, chief executive at Healthwatch England, said the figures are 'a first step in understanding the scale of demand for ADHD care'. She added: 'Our new research highlights that many people with ADHD may simply be going without support. 'Long waits for assessments are one of the reasons people who show ADHD traits don't seek help, while those waiting for an assessment struggle to navigate the long waits.' Ms Ansari also said it was important to build a 'clearer picture' of 'who is experiencing the longest waits and why'. Last year a MailOnline investigation revealed that doctors were dishing out powerful ADHD drugs at 10-times the rate in some parts of England than others. NHS data shows as many as one in 100 people in some areas are taking ADHD medications, compared to just one in 1,000 in nearby regions. Commenting on the findings, experts warned of over-diagnosis and 'mass-prescribing' could be putting public health at risk. University College London psychiatrist Professor Joanna Moncrieff, a vocal critic of medication overuse, said ADHD diagnosis is 'incredibly subjective'. 'One psychiatrist may think almost everyone has it, while another thinks very few do,' she said. 'We all have ADHD symptoms to some extent.' She added that private clinics are often quicker to diagnose than the NHS, making a diagnosis more likely in the independent sector. Professor Moncrieff said patients were increasingly demanding an ADHD diagnosis as the 'answer' to problems they are experiencing in areas like their work. 'This concept of ADHD has got out there and everyone is reinterpreting their difficulties in the light this new idea, 'I'm not bored and don't like my job, I have ADHD',' she said. 'Stimulants make people feel good, they make them feel confident, they make people feel a little bit euphoric, energetic, so of course people are going to be rating themselves as doing better.' Rising interest in ADHD is thought to be fuelled in part by celebrities sharing their diagnoses — including Katie Price, Love Island's Olivia Attwood, Sheridan Smith and former Bake Off host Sue Perkins. Attwood said it caused 'a lot of stress' in her teens, while Price said it explained why she never felt there would be 'consequences' for her actions. Perkins said the diagnosis made 'everything make sense'. Social media has also been blamed, with users praising ADHD meds for calming them and boosting focus. NHS prescriptions have doubled in six years to 230,000, with the sharpest rise—nearly 60 per cent in a year—among women in their late 20s and early 30s. Use among 25 to 39-year-olds has increased five-fold since 2015. In response, NHS England launched a taskforce to assess the scale of the condition. ADHD is also behind a surge in disability benefit claims. One in five now relate to behavioural conditions, with over 52,000 adults—mostly aged 16 to 29—listing ADHD as their main condition.
Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Times
Formal diagnoses of ADHD in Britain hit 800,000
More than 800,000 people in England have been formally diagnosed with ADHD, new NHS data shows. The NHS has released figures for the first time showing the number of people with the condition, amid a surge in demand for services over the past five years. They analysed GP records, finding that 0.8 per cent of adults and 2.3 per cent of children and young people now have a formal diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) , equivalent to approximately 820,000 people. The number of people prescribed medication on the NHS for ADHD has tripled over the past decade, and a rise in diagnoses is heaping pressure on the benefits system. However, the NHS said that, overall, the condition remained 'underdiagnosed', as an estimated 2.5 million people in England are likely to have ADHD. Currently more than half a million are on NHS waiting lists for an assessment. ADHD is a neuro-developmental disorder which means people may have difficulty concentrating or sitting still. The NHS estimates about 3 to 4 per cent of adults and 5 per cent of children and young people have the condition. It is estimated that 741,000 of the total are children and young people between the ages of five and 24, and some 147,000 are under five. ADHD is not usually diagnosed in children under five as some traits can be part of typical development. However, prevalence in youngsters aged four and under have been calculated to give an insight into how many may go on to be diagnosed in the future. At the end of March, 549,000 people were waiting to be assessed, compared with 416,000 the year before. The figures were developed using estimates from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Symptoms of ADHD are related to a person's ability to pay attention, control impulses and having high energy levels. Most people will have more than one symptom. • Surge in ADHD diagnoses attributed to TikTok Signs include being easily distracted, finding it hard to organise time, interrupting conversations and making quick decisions without thinking about what might happen as a result. Symptoms usually start before the age of 12. According to the NHS, ADHD can be managed through lifestyle changes, changes at work or medication, depending on the person's symptoms.
