ADHD and the Military
We asked the Ministry of Defence for some information about the Military and ADHD
How many people currently serving have a formal diagnosis of ADHD? (As of March 2023)
British Army
Royal Navy
Royal Air Force
If an individual serving presents with symptoms of ADHD what is the process from there?
Royal Navy
Royal Navy personnel would undergo a medical assessment and subsequent occupational grading would follow.
Royal Air Force
If an individual is seeking assessment for ADHD, they will be referred to a Department of Community Mental Health (DCMH) by their Medical Officer. If the patient does not already have evidence of a diagnosis of ADHD in childhood, they will likely be referred into specialist NHS services for assessment. The requirement for Defence Primary Healthcare to develop and provide a specialist ADHD service to all service personnel was endorsed by the Clinical Reference Group in June 2022 and forms part of the Healthcare Improvement Programme.
How many ADHD assessments were undertaken in the past 12 months (1 April 2022 – 31 March 2023)?
British Army
Royal Navy
Royal Air Force
In the past 3 years years how many ADHD Assessments has the establishment undertaken? (1 April 2020 to 31 March 2023)
British Army
Royal Navy
Royal Air Force
Of the people assessed in the last one year, how many were medically discharged within 12 months of receiving an ADHD diagnosis?
British Army – Of the 74 Army personnel who had a first appointment at a DCMH for ADHD between April 2020 and March 2023, fewer than five were subsequently medically discharged within a year of their first appointment. Medical discharges are presented for regular personnel only.*
Royal Navy – Of the 27 RN personnel who had a first appointment at a DCMH for ADHD between April 2020 and March 2023, fewer than 5 were subsequently medically discharged within a year of their first appointment.*
Royal Air Force – Of the 29 RAF personnel who had a first appointment at a DCMH for ADHD between April 2020 and March 2023, none were subsequently medically discharged within a year of the first appointment.*
*Please note, ADHD may not have been listed as a principal or contributory cause of the subsequent medical discharge and it may have been for an unrelated condition.
You could read the full Freedom of Information responses below:
British Army
Royal Navy
Royal Air Force