Faith, ADHD & Mental Health: Breaking the Stigma in Black and Brown Communities

ADHD is often missed, misunderstood, or stigmatized, especially in Black and brown communities and within faith-based spaces. In this conversation, Cynthia Hammer speaks with Tanya Murphy, founder of the Society for ADHD and Co-occurring Conditions, about why she created an organization focused on bringing ADHD education, awareness, and support into faith-based and marginalized communities. Tanya shares her own experience of growing up knowing she was “different,” struggling with anxiety and depression, and initially turning to her faith community for help. While faith remained an important part of her life, she came to understand that prayer and spiritual support did not have to replace professional mental health care, ADHD evaluation, therapy, medication, coaching, or other forms of support. They discuss: • Why ADHD can remain undiagnosed in Black and brown communities • How cultural and religious stigma can delay ADHD diagnosis • Why churches can become trusted places for ADHD education and support • Training faith leaders to recognize ADHD and neurodivergence • Creating more welcoming environments for neurodivergent children and adults • The Society for ADHD’s ADHD Unmasked support groups • How systemic racism can shape the experience of Black children with ADHD • ADHD, school discipline, and the juvenile justice system • Helping families recognize ADHD across generations • Moving away from viewing struggling children as simply “bad” or difficult • Recognizing both the challenges and strengths that can accompany ADHD Tonia explains how the Society for ADHD is partnering with churches to educate leaders, support parents, train people who work with children, reduce stigma, and help more individuals receive the evaluation and support they need. As Cynthia and Tonia discuss, changing the way we understand ADHD begins with changing the lens through which we view behavior. *Learn more about the Society for ADHD and Co-occurring Conditions:* https://societyforadhd.org *Learn more about FINDtheADHDgirls:* https://findtheadhdgirls.org FINDtheADHDgirls is working to increase awareness of how ADHD presents in girls so that more girls can be recognized, evaluated, diagnosed, and supported earlier. #ADHD #ADHDAwareness #ADHDInGirls #BlackMentalHealth #Neurodiversity #LateDiagnosedADHD #FaithAndMentalHealth #ADHDSupport #MentalHealthAwareness #FINDtheADHDgirls