Ask for support for yourself too
You count too. Your needs sit alongside your child's.
Guideline advice, not formally gradedADHD evidence
Start with the time you have
1 minute
Write down one name and the help you would ask that person for.
5 minutes
Draft a specific request for emotional or practical support.
15 minutes
Ask your health service or an established parent group what support exists for carers.
How sure the science is
Guideline advice, not formally graded, ADHD evidence
Recommended by ADHD clinical guidelines, but nobody has pooled the trials and graded how sure they are. Guideline advice is a considered judgement, not a measured certainty. Measured in people with ADHD.
Explicit NICE recommendation for ADHD family and carer support; not an estimate of a stress-treatment effect.
The number, drawn
Encourage carers to seek an assessment of their own needs
Why it matters
NICE says family members and carers of people with ADHD should be encouraged to get their own personal, social and mental health needs assessed, and to join support groups if appropriate. It is also clear that being offered parent training does not mean you are parenting badly. Asking for specific help can open a route to support. There is no single guaranteed effect on parental stress, though.
How to do it
- Name the part of parenting that is hardest to carry by yourself.
- Ask an adult you trust for help that is specific and realistic.
- If stress or low mood is getting in the way of daily life, tell your own health professional.
Seek urgent support if you feel unable to keep yourself or your child safe.
Putting it into practice
In real life
- 'Could you listen while I explain what has been difficult this week?'
- Tell your own clinician about persistent distress instead of discussing only your child's symptoms.
Watch out for
- Common mistakeA vague request may be hard to answer. Say what kind of help would matter.
- Common mistakeFeeling guilty about needing support can delay it, so treat your wellbeing as a legitimate need.
Trusted guides
How we rated it
- Evidence grade
- A Moderate or high certainty evidence in people with ADHD, or an explicit ADHD guideline recommendation.
- The number
- Encourage carers to seek an assessment of their own needs (NICE, public HSC Northern Ireland copy, 2018)
- Benefit
- 55/100 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.
- Effort
- Some effort
Sources
- Tier 1 guidelineADHD: diagnosis and management, NG87, information and supportNICE, public HSC Northern Ireland copy, 2018
- Tier 1 guidelineADHD & Self Esteem (undated)Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, 2026
- Tier 1 guidelineGet help with stressNHS, 2026
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.