A Channel 4 documentary has come under fire from an MP in Somerset for questioning the legitimacy of ADHD in its promotional material.
Yeovil MP Adam Dance, who has ADHD and severe dyslexia, has backed a cross-party letter from the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for ADHD raising concerns about Channel 4’s upcoming programme, The Great ADHD Myth?
The letter warns that the documentary's framing could fuel stigma around the neurodevelopmental condition.
Mr Dance said: "As someone who has ADHD and dyslexia myself, this matters to me personally as well as politically.
"There are absolutely important questions to ask about ADHD services.
"People are waiting far too long for assessments, families struggle to get support and we should be able to have an open discussion about diagnosis and medication.
"But questioning whether ADHD itself is real is very different.
"There is a well-established evidence base behind ADHD.
"Presenting its existence as an unresolved question risks adding to the stigma already faced by children and adults with the condition.
"I know what it feels like to spend years struggling without understanding why.
"Getting the right recognition and support can change someone’s life.
"We are not asking Channel 4 to avoid difficult questions.
"We are asking them to make sure those questions are based on evidence and that the impact on people with ADHD is properly considered."
Read more
Ex-Somerset councillor jailed over M25 Just Stop Oil protest on why he did it
Yeovil MP urges government to safeguard railway connectivity
Column: Adam Dance calls for policing changes in South Somerset
The APPG letter urges Channel 4 to reconsider the title and promotional language, and to ensure the programme accurately reflects scientific evidence.
It also raises concerns about the description of standard ADHD medication as “mind-altering drugs” and “corporal punishment,” warning that such language could create unnecessary fear.
The APPG is seeking assurances about an experiment featured in the documentary, which reportedly involves a child stopping prescribed medication.
The letter warns against using individual cases to draw conclusions about the wider ADHD population.
ADHD is recognised as a neurodevelopmental disorder by NICE and the World Health Organization's ICD-11 classification.
The APPG's letter stresses that presenting the question of whether ADHD is a genuine neurodevelopmental disorder or a social construct risks misleading viewers about the established scientific evidence.
Estimates suggest around three to five per cent of children and two to four per cent of adults are affected by ADHD.
Mr Dance has made improving support for neurodivergent children a key focus of his parliamentary work.
His Neurodivergence (Screening and Teacher Training) Bill calls for earlier identification of neurodivergent traits and improved teacher training.
The APPG has asked Channel 4 for a substantive response and offered to meet with the broadcaster and production team to discuss their concerns.
Share