Anxiety, Depression and Help-Seeking in University Students with ADHD: Findings from the I-SWAP Project

This study examined 191 university students diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (39.8%) or meeting criteria for probable ADHD (59.2%) according to the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS). It focused on the prevalence of depression and anxiety, comorbidity of these conditions, their predictors, and help seeking behaviours. The findings revealed that 78% of participants with ADHD met the criteria for depression and 59.7% for anxiety. Despite this, many didn’t recognise their need for help, with 59% of those experiencing depression and 56% with anxiety perceiving no need for change. Over half (56.5%) of the sample experienced both depression and anxiety alongside ADHD. Multiple regression analysis showed that PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores together explained 80% of the variance in ASRS scores. Perceived stress and emotional regulation difficulties were key predictors of increased depression and anxiety. Although comorbidity was high less than half felt the need for counselling or other treatments for their mental health. Key barriers to seeking help included uncertainty about where to seek help, cost, and logistical challenges, differing from non-ADHD peers. These results highlight a gap in relation to mental health literacy and access to care. Interventions empowering those with ADHD to recognise and better manage their needs are recommended.