Our projects aim to improve understanding, awareness and quality of life for Black Women and Non-Binary people of African-Caribbean descent with ADHD.
Trauma Workshop
10th April 2023
ADHD Babes partnered with Jacqueline Reid to run a workshop focused on learning about the biology of stress and the difference between a stress response & trauma response. Participants discussed mindfulness techniques to help navigate the body's stress response.
The aims of the session:
- better understanding of how the body responds to stress
- better understanding of how the body responds to trauma
- education on techniques to help the body process stress
Jacqueline “Jay“ Reid has spent the last 20 years examining how early traumas affected her upbringing and mental health. Jay has worked with counselors, social workers, trauma therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and even a neurologist in her journey to mental health & wellness.
Quotes from Participant feedback:
What did you like about the session?
“The language that was used to break down and explain complicated biological information. Explaining why things are happening is key for neurodiverse folk and makes grounding practices more accessible.”
“Learning about the differences between trauma and stress plus the breathing techniques”
“Detailed, gave examples, practical tips and was facilitated by a licensed therapist”
ADHD Babes - Trauma Recovery & Wellbeing Programme
October 2022
We launched our first wellbeing programme focusing on alternative wellness and healing within our community! It was such a beautiful day filled with joy, laughter, sombre reflections and good energy.
Our 8 week wellbeing programme focused on wellness, healing and community together as Black Women and Black Non-binary folk with ADHD.
Some feedback from the initial day:
“ADHD babes is a magical space. Thank you”
“A care centered space with so much love and integrity. Beautiful experience”
“Thank you for facilitating such a wonderful program and assisting us on our healing journey”
Participants recorded responses to questions on the Core 10 + physical wellbeing questionnaire and a separate wellbeing questionnaire before and after the programme.
‘The Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation is one measure that has been widely used to evaluate psychological distress during treatment’ (source)
The Wellbeing questionnaire measured positive aspects of wellbeing such as feeling optimistic and connected to one’s community.
Results showed scores from the Core 10+ decreased after treatment, indicating a decrease in psychological distress; and the Wellbeing scores improved, indicating an increase in overall wellness among participants.
Feedback after the programme was completed:
"Meeting the group helped me, I felt alone for so long"
"I appreciated the fact it was a very collaborative programme...it's a collective effort"
"We got to see each other on a human level"
"As a programme I think it was perfect"
"Thank you for facilitating a wonderful/healing wellness programme"
Core 10+ Physical Wellbeing Questionnaire Scores
Wellbeing Questionnaire Scores
Sickle Cell Blood Drive
30th October 2022, in Stratford, London
ADHD Babes partnered with Tiimo, facilitating a blood drive to encourage members of the Black community to give blood.
A special ADHD Babes podcast episode sponsored by Tiimo was released (access it here), where guests discussed the importance of awareness for an illness that mainly affects the Black community and how Sickle Cell symptoms can overlap and exacerbate ADHD symptoms.
The Blood Drive took place on October 30th in Stratford, drawing over 20 donors and encouraging Black donors to give life-changing donations that have a huge impact on members of the sickle cell community.