CADDRA, the Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance
The not-for-profit of clinicians behind the Canadian ADHD Practice Guidelines, free to download. Its public section has adult resources and links.
Where to go next
A deliberately short list. Every resource here is a government health body, a national non-profit, a recognized clinical organization or peer-reviewed research. Nothing is sponsored, and none of these links are affiliate links.
If you need help right now
Call or text 988
Free, 24/7 suicide crisis support anywhere in Canada and the US, in English and French in Canada. You don't need to be suicidal to reach out: feeling overwhelmed is reason enough.
Call 911
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Start here: trusted organizations
Plain-language, evidence-based information from groups that set or follow clinical guidelines.
CADDAC, the Centre for ADHD Awareness, Canada
National charity offering free adult support groups, group coaching, webinars and a resource navigator that helps you find local assessment and support. Toll-free 1-800-807-0090.
CHADD
The largest US ADHD non-profit and home of the National Resource Center on ADHD. Strong adult sections, including work, relationships and finances.
National Institute of Mental Health
Neutral, research-based overview of symptoms, causes, treatment options and current research.
CDC: ADHD
Diagnostic criteria in plain terms, data and statistics, and the 2024 national survey on adults with ADHD.
NHS: ADHD
Clear, concise guidance on symptoms in adults, diagnosis and living with ADHD.
Understand it better
ADHD Explained: A 28-Minute Primer
Dr. Thomas E. Brown's explainer from Understood, the video that inspired this site. A full transcript is available on the page.
World Federation of ADHD Consensus Statement
208 evidence-based conclusions about ADHD, each backed by meta-analyses or very large studies. Free to read and ideal for myth-busting.
ADDitude expert webinars
A large archive of free webinars from clinicians and researchers on adult topics like emotions, work and relationships.
Programs, groups and coaching
Learning alongside other adults with ADHD is one of the most consistently helpful things people report.
CADDAC programs and events
Group coaching for adults (25+) and youth (16 to 24), plus free peer support groups.
ADDA virtual programs
The Attention Deficit Disorder Association focuses specifically on adults, with virtual support groups and peer programs.
ADDA courses
Self-paced courses for adults on topics like planning, procrastination and emotional regulation.
CHADD: Mastering Your Adult ADHD
An introduction to a structured, skills-based program for adults built on cognitive behavioural principles.
Screening tools
WHO Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1)
A six-question screener developed with the World Health Organization and hosted by Harvard Medical School. Like our self-check, it is a screener and not a diagnosis.
Scales your clinician may use
Formal assessments often add rating scales such as the Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale and the Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale, usually alongside an interview and input from someone who knows you well.
Books worth reading
Smart but Stuck: Emotions in Teens and Adults with ADHD
Brown's case-based look at how emotion and motivation shape ADHD, from the expert in the video.
Attention Deficit Disorder: The Unfocused Mind in Children and Adults
The fuller version of the six-cluster model of executive function used in our self-check.
Taking Charge of Adult ADHD
A practical, research-grounded workbook from one of the field's most cited researchers.
Getting assessed in Canada
Every province works a little differently, but the path usually looks like this.
- Talk to your family doctor or nurse practitioner. Say you'd like to discuss adult ADHD. Bring your self-check report and any notes about how it affects work, home and relationships.
- Gather your history. Old report cards and memories from a parent or sibling help show whether signs were present before age 12, which the criteria require.
- Expect a proper assessment, not a quiz. Clinicians use interviews, rating scales and information from people who know you, and check for things that look similar, like sleep problems, anxiety or depression.
- Check your coverage. Assessments may be done by a physician, psychiatrist or psychologist. Private psychological assessments are often not covered by provincial plans, so check your workplace benefits first.
- Use the navigators. CADDAC's resource navigator and the CADDRA site can help you find options near you.
Research behind this site
- Staley, B.S. et al. (2024). ADHD diagnosis, treatment, and telehealth use in adults, United States, 2023. MMWR 73(40):890-895. Read
- Mattingly, G. & Childress, A. (2024). Clinical implications of ADHD in adults: new CDC data. J Clin Psychiatry 85(4). Read
- Song, P. et al. (2021). The prevalence of adult ADHD: a global systematic review and meta-analysis. J Glob Health 11:04009. Read
- Faraone, S.V. & Larsson, H. (2019). Genetics of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Molecular Psychiatry 24:562-575. Read
- Faraone, S.V. et al. (2021). The World Federation of ADHD International Consensus Statement: 208 evidence-based conclusions. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 128:789-818. Read
- Beheshti, A., Chavanon, M.L. & Christiansen, H. (2020). Emotion dysregulation in adults with ADHD: a meta-analysis. BMC Psychiatry 20:120. Read
- Marcus, D.K., Norris, A.L. & Coccaro, E.F. (2012). The latent structure of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in an adult sample. J Psychiatr Res 46(6):782-789. Read
- Brown, T.E. (2009). ADD/ADHD and impaired executive function in clinical practice. Current Attention Disorders Reports 1:37-41. Read
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms and diagnosis of ADHD (DSM-5 criteria summary). Read
- Kessler, R.C. et al. (2005). The World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS). Psychological Medicine 35(2):245-256. Read
- Understood (2016). ADHD Explained: A 28-Minute Primer, with Thomas E. Brown, PhD. Watch