Member's statement: Adult ADHD Services
Member's statement by Mr Peter McReynolds on .
- MLA
- Mr Peter McReynolds
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 20 May 2024
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Adult ADHD Services
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4490505
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Almost one month ago, I was grateful to have the opportunity to present a petition to the Speaker in the Chamber on behalf of more than 3,500 people calling for the urgent commissioning of adult ADHD services in Northern Ireland. That is an essential first step to give hope and support to the, potentially, thousands of adults here who are living with ADHD and who have masked their symptoms all their lives while the science and evidence highlighting the condition has improved. Today, I speak on behalf of those who have received that crucial and life-changing diagnosis but are now unsure of their continued access to medication, due to shortages. It is well known that that shortage is due to a global shortage of medication and the rise in those being diagnosed. However, here in Northern Ireland, we are more acutely affected because patients face significant difficulties in obtaining access to specialists to speak to about their ADHD. Over the past week, I have received messages from concerned and stressed adults and parents who feel that they are on a countdown until they run out. Telling people to "seek advice from the specialist teams" is nothing short of laughable, with the majority of individuals unaware of what that means. I am aware that the Health Minister is confident that the issue will be resolved by September, at the very latest, but that is four months away. That is not good enough. What happens if it is not resolved by then? What do people do until then? Is the Health Minister aware of the impact that having to withdraw from the medication will have? Is he aware of the impact that it has on the ability and performance of those who need it in schools and universities and of the anxiety that many are living with as they slowly run out of a product that allows them to function in their daily lives? ADHD is a serious condition, but interventions can be relatively quick and easy. It does not require more money to be thrown at it. All that is required is the will and motivation to do what is right. I urge the Health Minister to do all that he can to address it, before September, alongside urgently commissioning adult ADHD services. People living with the condition are becoming desperate and feel forgotten about. The ripple effect that the lack of support has on people with ADHD is colossal.
409 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.03 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.96).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- Subject area: Disability (including neurodivergence and mental health), disabled people and disability or sickness benefits.
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.04 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.02 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.01 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.02 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.02 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.96 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.03 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Disability (including neurodivergence and mental health), disabled people and disability or sickness benefits | 1.00 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.00 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
| Irish language, Ulster-Scots and language policy | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 10:20 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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