This paper addresses the issue of insufficient support for children and adolescents with ADHD in Poland. The author notes that while the number of ADHD diagnoses among young people is rising, obtaining a diagnosis does not always guarantee access to consistent support. There is a lack of coordinated cooperation between the healthcare system, schools, and families, and teachers are not always adequately prepared to work with students with ADHD. This situation can lead to stigmatization and exacerbate educational difficulties.
The policy brief’s main recommendation is to remove the rigid list of medical diagnoses found in Article 127 of the Law on School Education and replace it with a functional diagnosis criterion. The author also proposes developing a nationwide post-diagnosis pathway for ADHD that clearly defines the roles of parents, schools, and the healthcare system. Further recommendations include strengthening training and support for teachers, as well as expanding psychoeducational initiatives for parents, teachers, and students to reduce stigma and improve understanding of ADHD.
Lena Prus holds a Master’s degree in Dietetics from King's College London. She possesses clinical and research experience, including the validation of digital tools. Her thesis mentor was Dr. Aleksandra Lewandowska, National Consultant in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and coordinator of child and adolescent psychiatric wards and outpatient clinics at the J. Babiński Hospital in Łódź.
The article is available on the Tygodnik Medyczny website. A full report containing a detailed analysis of the proposed measures will be published on our website soon.
This paper was produced as part of the Young Think Policy Briefs: Health program.