Irish Student Wellbeing and ADHD Project (I-SWAP)
Two members of our team, Caroline Millar and Sophy McFarlane were involved in the I-SWAP project, a 12-month, cross-border project funded by the North-South Research Programme, from the Government’s Shared Island initiative. One of the project's aims was to improve wellbeing and help-seeking behaviours among students living with ADHD. This aim was achieved by the development, delivery, and evaluation of a mental health literacy and wellbeing programme. In recognition of the long waiting lists that exist to receive a diagnosis of ADHD and in order to not exclude students needing support, the sessions were open to anyone living with symptoms of ADHD. All participants were screened for symptoms of ADHD.
The programme’s content was created by the I-SWAP team, and it was Caroline and Sophy’s role as experienced facilitators to deliver the programme to the groups of students. Caroline and Sophy delivered sessions both online and across three campuses: Atlantic Technological University (ATU) and Ulster University’s Coleraine and Belfast campuses. Sessions were one hour long and ran for 8 weeks.
Session topics covered Psychoeducation on ADHD; tools for regulating emotions; Rejection Sensitivity which is a commonly experienced symptom of ADHD; ADHD and Mental Health; Managing Anxiety and Low Mood; and Hope & Resilience.
Evaluation of the wellbeing sessions was largely positive and they were found to be a cost-effective intervention which addresses gaps in services. Participants stated a desire to see the continuation of the group. The group setting provided a sense of belonging for participants and an opportunity to relate to others and normalise their experiences. One of the groups formed their own peer support group and stayed in touch after the group sessions had ended.
Funding was secured to run the sessions again at Ulster University the following year, in semester two of 2024. A change in work commitments meant that Caroline was, unfortunately, unable to support the delivery of the groups this time around. Sophy delivered sessions both online, and on the Magee and Belfast campuses. The session content was edited and restructured based on the feedback received from the 2023 groups. Again, evaluation was largely positive, members formed a peer support group and stayed in touch, and the need to continue offering groups like this for students living with ADHD was voiced.
There is clear value in offering such groups to students and Pneuma hopes to be able to continue to build on the success of these groups and secure further funding to allow them to continue in the future.
Some lovely feedback from our students:
“Having the opportunity to connect with others with ADHD was something I've never had the opportunity to do before and the positive impact doing so has had on me cannot be understated”
“I think the programme's ability to create a sense of community and deter some of the isolation involved with being neurodivergent is so important and I'm very grateful for”
“It's helped me so much. It's given me the tools to not only understand my mental health more but manage it as well”
