# Try a supportive ADHD group

Published by Pawel Jozefiak. [About this project](https://adhd100.jock.pl/about/), [How we check sources](https://adhd100.jock.pl/methodology/)

- Canonical: https://adhd100.jock.pl/find-supportive-peers/
- Language: en
- First published: 2026-09-29
- Evidence checked: 2026-09-29, using AI-assisted source verification
- Clinical review: Not clinically reviewed
- Number 58 of 100 in the list: https://adhd100.jock.pl/#find-supportive-peers

Find people who get it, and check that the group feels safe and useful.

**The number:** Provide information about local and national ADHD support groups ([NICE, public HSC Northern Ireland copy, 2018](https://cypsp.hscni.net/wp-content/uploads/ebpp/reports/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-diagnosis-and-management-pdf-1837699732933.pdf))

## The evidence

- How sure: Certainty of evidence: Guideline advice, not formally graded. Measured in people with ADHD.
- Evidence grade: A. Grade A: moderate or high certainty evidence in people with ADHD, or an explicit ADHD guideline recommendation.
- Basis: Explicit NICE ADHD support recommendation; no published certainty rating or symptom-reduction estimate for peer groups.
- Benefit: 45/100. The benefit score is an editorial prioritization for the general list, weighted by certainty. It is not a prediction of what will happen for you.

## Why it matters

NICE recommends giving people with ADHD and their families information about ADHD support groups. Other people with the same experience can offer understanding and practical suggestions. The recommendation does not show that a group reduces ADHD symptoms. You can just listen at first and decide whether it meets your needs.

## How to do it

1. Find a group through a health service or an established ADHD organisation.
2. Check who it's for, whether someone moderates it and how privacy works.
3. Go to one meeting with no pressure to share. Keep only the advice you can verify.

## Talk to a clinician first

Peer support complements professional help. Do not follow another member's medication or diagnostic advice.

## Putting it into practice

### Start now

- 1 minute: Write down what you'd want from a group: understanding, shared experience or practical encouragement.
- 5 minutes: Use the NHS resource list to identify one suitable group and check its audience and cost.
- 15 minutes: Check moderation and privacy arrangements, then enquire about attending once as a listener.

### What it looks like

- Join an adult group as a listener before deciding whether to return.
- A parent asks an ADHD service which local carer group welcomes newcomers.

### Common mistakes

- Anecdotes are not treatment evidence, so verify medical claims with a qualified professional.
- A group that pressures you to disclose or buy something may not suit you, so leave or try another.

### Trusted how-to guides

- [Support Available: understanding emotional regulation in ADHD](https://www.elft.nhs.uk/adult-adhd-services/support-available), East London NHS Foundation Trust
- [ADHD in adults](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/adhd-adults/), NHS
- [Evaluating Health Information (undated)](https://medlineplus.gov/evaluatinghealthinformation.html), MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine

## Sources

- [ADHD: diagnosis and management, NG87, information and support](https://cypsp.hscni.net/wp-content/uploads/ebpp/reports/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-diagnosis-and-management-pdf-1837699732933.pdf), NICE, public HSC Northern Ireland copy, 2018 (Tier 1 guideline)
- [Support Available: understanding emotional regulation in ADHD](https://www.elft.nhs.uk/adult-adhd-services/support-available), East London NHS Foundation Trust, 2026 (Tier 1 guideline)
- [ADHD in adults](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/adhd-adults/), NHS, 2025 (Tier 1 guideline)
- [Evaluating Health Information (undated)](https://medlineplus.gov/evaluatinghealthinformation.html), MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine, 2026 (Tier 1 guideline)

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General information about ADHD, not a diagnosis or an individual treatment plan. Tailoring changes the order of suggestions; it does not assess you. Medication decisions belong with you and a qualified clinician.

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