ADHD and mental health among young people
The project
Most people with ADHD have difficulties with their mental health. Getting support for ADHD and mental health is beneficial but difficult. Young people with ADHD face complex barriers to receiving effective support, and researchers at Curtin want to change that!
Project EPIC (Enabling Potential through Interim Care) is a consumer-led program of research that has the following aims:
- Better understand young people’s lived experiences of ADHD and mental health
- Better understand the mental health needs of young people with ADHD
- Improve access to ADHD and mental health services for young people
- Develop and deliver programs that can support young people to live well with ADHD
Over the past two years, the researchers have interviewed young people with ADHD and done workshops with them to develop Project EPIC. This co-designed program integrates psychoeducation and social support to develop skills and strategies to manage ADHD and mental health. The next steps of the project include:
- Testing the program
- Developing a research strategy to ensure that what we do meets young people’s needs and priorities
Each year, the research team also run an EPIC Event, which brings together young people with ADHD to build community and develop social connections.
The involvement opportunity
Researchers are seeking expressions of interest from young people with ADHD, aged between 16 and 20 years. As an EPIC Youth Advisory Group member, you’ll have the opportunity to be involved in:
- Planning research activities, such as surveys, interviews, and recruitment materials
- Contributing to research activities, such as data collection, data analysis, and creating outputs (manuscript writing, plain language summaries)
- Planning and running the annual EPIC event
- Creating social media content
Skills and experience
To be eligible for involvement, you need to be aged between 16 and 20, and must have an existing diagnosis of ADHD or have made progress in your diagnostic journey (i.e. completed an assessment that indicates you have ADHD).
Previous experience in an Advisory Group is not required. Previous research experience is also not required. The research team is looking for young people who are motivated to share their experiences of ADHD and mental health. Even if you have no research experience, you can make a meaningful contribution to the project – and the research team will help you develop the skills to do it!
The research team are looking for young people who have experience or an interest in any of the following areas:
- Mental health and/or adversity (e.g. housing, incarceration)
- Social media content creation
- Event planning
- Connecting with youth centres or community organisations
The research team is particularly interested in hearing from people with diverse backgrounds (e.g. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander; first and second-generation immigrants; culturally and linguistically diverse; trans and gender diverse; neurodivergent; disabled) and from diverse geographical locations (regional/rural/remote).
Other information
The Youth Advisory Group will meet approximately once per month for 2 hours. In addition to meetings, you will be asked to contribute time to research activities and events. The time commitment for these is variable and will be negotiated based on your availability.
Meetings are hybrid, held online via Teams and on the Curtin campus (Bentley).
An honorarium of $37.50 per hour will be provided. Training for research activities will also be offered as needed.
Applications close 3 October 2025.