“We’re just not even on the map”: Black women’s experiences of adult ADHD diagnosis and care in the United Kingdom

Objective: Racism is increasingly recognised as a determinant of poor health, including mental health. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that has historically been under-diagnosed in women, particularly women from racially minoritised groups, and the experiences of Black women remain underexplored in the literature. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of Black women in the UK who were formally diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood, with particular attention to their experiences of accessing assessment and support within healthcare systems. Method: Seventeen Black women aged 23 to 54 years participated in qualitative interviews using an interpretivist intersectional paradigm focused on multiple ways of ‘being in the world’. Interviews were undertaken online through Microsoft Teams. Data were analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Results: Three main themes were generated: (1) Cultural narratives of mental health and neurodivergence, (2) Being a Black woman with ADHD and (3) Navigating Healthcare as a Black woman with ADHD. Participants reported stigma, mistrust, and negative or uninformed attitudes towards ADHD. They also encountered misogynoir, stereotyping, and a sense of invisibility as Black women with ADHD. These factors created significant barriers to accessing and navigating healthcare. Discussion: The experiences of Black women with ADHD are shaped by intersecting racial, gendered, and neurodivergence-related discrimination. Therefore, addressing inequalities in ADHD care and treatment will also require more equitable recognition, assessment, and support for ADHD in this group.