Brilliant Minds Erased? The Hidden Crisis of ADHD Misdiagnosis in China | Beck Yang | TEDxBISZ Youth

Mental Health Awareness and ADHD in China - ADHD is often misunderstood in China, viewed as a personality flaw rather than a neurodevelopmental disorder [6] - A 2018 study indicated that 63% of the population in China has ADHD, which equates to 3223 million kids, but only a small portion are diagnosed [5] - Mental health services in China are overwhelmed, with a severe shortage of trained professionals [9][10] - At the end of 2019, there were only 29% psychiatrists per 100000 people in China, compared to 66% in developed countries [10] Stigma and its Impact - Mental health stigma is deeply rooted, affecting both individuals with ADHD and their caregivers [13][14] - In Taiwan, parents of children with ADHD often experience shame or depression, leading to delays or denial of treatment [14] Personal Experiences and Coping Mechanisms - Individuals with ADHD may develop unhealthy coping mechanisms due to feeling overwhelmed [15] - The speaker's personal experience highlights the challenges of diagnosis, medication side effects, and social stigma [11][12][13] Call to Action and Self-Acceptance - The speech encourages self-acceptance and challenges societal perceptions of mental health [21] - It emphasizes that mental health challenges do not define a person and that differences can be strengths [18][19][20]