Calm Down: Inside Our ADHD Minds
How young people in Greater Manchester shaped NHS services and created something powerful along the way.
From November 2024 to December 2025, GMYN partnered with NHS Greater Manchester to run a youth voice group for young people with lived experience of ADHD. What began as a listening project grew into something much bigger, a movement of young advocates, a collection of honest voices, and a co-produced zine that could change how the next generation understands themselves.
The group built a core team who contributed to the final project: “Calm Down, Inside our ADHD Minds” a zine co-produced with artist Bethany (aka FIgHous), made by and for young people.
What we achieved together
Collected feedback for an NHS report on ADHD services across Greater Manchester gathering voices from schools, youth groups, an online form, and our own group members.
Young people met directly with NHS Commissioners, the Engagement Team, and the Children’s Mental Health and Neurodivergent Team shaping real decisions about leaflets, locality hubs, a new centralised website for neurodivergent young people, and changes to the diagnosis pathway.
One young person was invited to speak at Champions Day at Manchester Children’s Hospital sharing their own personal story in front of NHS professionals.
That same young person went on to advocate passionately for ADHD support at the Greater Manchester Neurodivergent VCSE Collective at HOME.
A group of young people were interviewed by BBC Radio Manchester and contributed to a BBC News article about their experiences.
The group co-produced “Calm Down, Inside our ADHD Minds” a zine intended for GPs, CAMHS, schools, universities and other services.
Young people wrote speeches and poems to share at a celebration event where the zine was revealed for the very first time.
In their own words
We asked the young people what they hoped the zine would do. Here’s what they said:
“If I had had that when I was younger I would have been able to think, ‘Oh, maybe I have ADHD’ and I could have got diagnosed a lot earlier.”
“I hope other young people see it and then learn more about ADHD. Because I feel like right now people really don’t know that much about it.”
“For it to be read by people who maybe don’t have a diagnosis yet and who maybe feel a bit isolated with what they’re feeling not being diagnosed and being put on a wait list.”
This project was delivered in partnership with NHS Greater Manchester. The zine Calm Down, Inside our ADHD Minds is a GMYN Youth Voice Project, co-produced with artist Bethany (FIgHous).
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