The high cost of undiagnosed and untreated ADHD: Unequal mental‑health access and the care economy

Article excerpt

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder affects millions across all demographics, yet significant disparities in diagnosis and treatment persist, particularly along socioeconomic and ethnic lines. The gap between those who receive care and those who go undiagnosed carries substantial economic consequences, rippling through healthcare systems and the broader care economy. Untreated ADHD can impair educational attainment, employment outcomes, and quality of life, creating downstream costs in social services and lost productivity. Unequal access to mental-health care, driven by insurance coverage gaps, geographic barriers, and diagnostic delays, means that vulnerable populations bear a disproportionate burden of the disorder's effects.