Yesterday, Channel 4 broadcast a documentary titled ‘The Great ADHD Myth?’.

Responding to the documentary, Professor Subodh Dave, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, commented:

“The way we speak about neurodevelopmental conditions really matters. It can fuel harmful stigma experienced by people living with the condition and risk discouraging people from seeking the support and treatment they need.

“While we understand individuals may have their own opinions about the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD, the College takes an evidence-based approach. Research suggests 3 to 5% of the population have ADHD, indicating that it is still under-recognised, under-diagnosed and under-treated in the UK.

“The sharp increase in ADHD waiting lists and diagnoses in recent years needs to be better understood. It might be explained by improvements in public awareness of these conditions, misdiagnosis due to poor quality assessments and a variety of other factors, but invalidating the condition does a disservice to people with ADHD and professionals involved in their care.

The latest NHS England autism assessment figures out today show the scale of a growing crisis.

Too many autistic people and their families are waiting months, and often years, for an assessment. That means delayed support, missed opportunities in education and employment, and worsening unmet need.

Successive governments have failed to address rising waiting times. We need investment in assessment capacity, accountability for reducing waits, and support for autistic people before and after diagnosis.

Read our full response from Mel Merritt, Head of Policy and Influencing, here:
https://lnkd.in/edWNEwgM

Here at Axia, our current waiting times are:
4 weeks for a virtual assessment
4 weeks for a face to face assessment

We’ve launched a research survey into ADHD and autism assessments.

The goal is to bring the reality of your lived experience directly to the Government, who don’t currently understand the rise in demand for assessment.

If you, your child or someone you support has been on a ADHD or Autism waitlist at any point over the last 14 years, we want to hear from you.

🔗 Take part here: https://lnkd.in/e_cCNdh5

#AutismAction #Autism #ADHD #Neurodiversity

For anyone who hasn’t yet seen the BBC’s Lifeline Appeal for Tourettes Action, there are only 14 days left for people to view it on the BBC website.

Linkedin: Emma McNally’s Post

Lots of work going on behind the scenes to pull this together but we are thrilled to have been given this amazing opportunity. Huge thanks to Danielle, Matthew and Freya for opening up their lives, and also to Eddie Marsan for being our wonderful presenter. We are so grateful to them all 💚 please tune in and help us spread the message far and wide 💚

Following the screening, Emma joined Dawn Butler MP, Paul Stanworth, paul stevenson, Kirk Jones and Dr Jeremy Stern for a Q&A discussion. One of the key themes explored was how accurately I Swear portrays the experience of those with Tourettes and their families. Many trying to understand what is happening, often without answers, guidance or support.

Sadly, this is a story we hear every day at Tourettes Action.

In this video, our Assistant Director for External Affairs, Chrystyna Chymera-Holloway, explains the facts about Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – a benefit that covers the extra costs of having a disability. It is not an out of work benefit.

The Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, has today published her annual report, Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services: 2024-25. Our charity’s response to the report is included below.

Our comment

Mel Merritt, Head of Policy and Campaigns at the National Autistic Society, said: “The Children’s Commissioner’s report clearly shows autistic children and young people are being failed. They face unacceptable average waits of a year for a diagnosis and even after a diagnosis, autistic children wait twice as long as their peers for any support. Only 13% of children waiting for an autism assessment went on to receive support, the rest remain lost in a system that simply isn’t working. Without support they can face escalating mental health issues, crisis, detention in a mental health hospital and even in some cases loss of life.

“Urgent action is needed. The Government needs to stop ignoring this problem. We support the Children’s Commissioner’s calls for improved joint working between services. The Government’s new Mental Health Strategy and the next autism strategy must have funded plans for improving access to support for autistic children and young people.”

Are you a Gursikh? We want to hear from you.

I’m a Trainee Clinical Psychologist at the University of Southampton, and I’m investigating the views and experiences of compassion in the Sikh community. Your feedback could help shape mental health services for Gursikhs.

We are looking to interview Gursikh adults living in the UK.

What does it involve?

You will be asked to complete an interview with Jaupreet (via Teams). The interview will last up to an hour, and you will receive a £25 amazon voucher as a thank you for taking part.

If you’re interested, please scan the QR code on the poster, or click on the link below.

https://lnkd.in/e995TNaw

If you have any questions, please contact Jaupreet @ j.khaira.soton.ac.uk

Calvin has shared another photo from the Pokémon event in Turin with his friends from The Gamers Lodge in Liverpool.

Please find links below to Pokémon regional and Gamers Lodge

https://thegamerslodge.com/

https://championships.pokemon.com/en-us/about/

It’s the Pokémon Regional in Turin, Italy. Calvin and his friends from The Gamers Lodge in Liverpool are there and have shared the photo below.

Please find links below to Pokémon regional and Gamers Lodge

https://thegamerslodge.com/

https://championships.pokemon.com/en-us/about/

Autism Act 2009 Committee

On Wednesday 10 June, the House of Lords will debate the report of the Committee on the Autism Act 2009.

The Committee recommended that the Government urgently deliver the new autism strategy, so it’s ready to launch when the current one expires in July this year.

In the debate, members will question the Minister about delivering the new strategy, and the Minister will respond.

30 Years Of The Journal Autism: How Far Have We Come And What Is Next?

June 2026 marks the thirtieth birthday of the journal Autism and this special collection celebrates that incredible milestone. Our current journal Editors have selected articles from our back catalogue which have shaped their understanding and their work – and our field as a whole. Some represent turning points or moments of excellence. Others sadly demonstrate how much progress is still needed on many issues that affect autistic people’s lives. In each case we accompany the original article with a short reflection from the nominating editor, giving an account of why they selected that particular article for inclusion.

As well as looking back and celebrating our past, this birthday provides us with a reason to consider our future. Like all 30-year-olds embarking on a phase of greater maturity and independence, Autism is becoming a grown-up force in the autism research landscape. Our journal now receives in excess of 1000 submitted manuscripts per year, and accepts less than a quarter of those. We are just one of many superb autism-focused journals, so our decisions certainly are not the be-all and end-all of published autism research. Nonetheless we are acutely aware of our influence. As editors, we seek to wield our decision-making power responsibly and effectively.