Many Black children and adolescents with ADHD are not receiving the mental health services they need, or even accurate diagnoses.
Stigma, misdiagnoses, and difficulty accessing evidence-based psychosocial treatment contribute to this gap in care, leaving many Black youth struggling at home, in school, and socially.Misdiagnosis is a significant barrier to care.
Black children and adolescents with ADHD are more likely to be labeled with oppositional defiant disorder and to have their ADHD symptoms misunderstood as defiance.
Also, cultural stigma surrounding mental health can prevent Black families from seeking care and from using ADHD medication when it is prescribed.