West Sussex woman builds global ADHD support community for late-diagnosed women
A West Sussex woman who was diagnosed with ADHD at 41 has created a global support community for late-diagnosed women - now with more than 5,100 members, including many across Portsmouth and the South Coast.
My name is Lara Leeves and I live in West Sussex. After being diagnosed with ADHD at 41, I created a small online support group hoping to find a handful of women who understood what I was going through.
That group has now grown into HEARD., a global community of more than 5,100 women, many of whom live across Sussex, Portsmouth, Hampshire and the South Coast. We are also currently in the process of becoming a registered charity, as the demand for support has grown far beyond anything I expected.
Late-diagnosed ADHD in women is becoming a huge hidden issue locally. Many women in their 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and even 70s are only now receiving the correct diagnosis after years of struggling, masking symptoms, or being mislabelled with depression or anxiety.
Through HEARD., we now run in-person women’s circles and wellness walks in Brighton, Worthing, Portsmouth and surrounding areas, creating safe, supportive spaces for women to connect, talk openly and feel understood for the first time.
I’d love to share my story and highlight how common late-diagnosed ADHD is becoming for women in the South, and the real difference that community support can make.
I’m happy to speak further and provide more information or images if helpful.
Warm regards,
Lara Leeves
Founder, HEARD.