The number of ADHD diagnoses among children and teenagers in Finland continued to increase last year, with the sharpest growth recorded among teenage girls, according to new figures from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.
Data published by THL on Monday showed that ADHD diagnoses rose across all age groups between 2015 and 2024 with no sign that the trend is slowing.
Boys still account for most diagnoses.
In 2024, ADHD was recorded in about 12.5 per cent of boys aged seven to 12 and 11.5 per cent of boys aged 13 to 17.
Among girls, the figures remained lower but continued to climb at a faster pace than among boys. ADHD was diagnosed in around 4.5 per cent of girls of primary school age and about 7 per cent of girls aged 13 to 17.
The figures show that the gap between boys and girls has narrowed during the past decade.
THL said the continued increase is placing pressure on healthcare services, especially primary care where most ADHD assessments and treatment take place.
“ADHD diagnoses among children and young people have increased throughout the entire review period from 2015 to 2024, with no clear change in the trend so far,” said Terhi Aalto-Setälä, chief physician at THL.
“This poses a major challenge especially for primary healthcare, where ADHD diagnostics and treatment are mainly concentrated.”
Aalto-Setälä said ADHD assessment requires detailed multidisciplinary evaluations that current services often struggle to provide.
The report also showed continued growth in the use of ADHD medication among children and teenagers. At the same time, diagnosis rates have risen faster than medication use during recent years.
Researchers said the trend could point to changes in treatment practices.
“The use of ADHD medication in Finland is already relatively high compared to other Nordic countries, particularly among primary school-aged boys,” said Miika Vuori, research manager at Finland’s Social Insurance Institution Kela.
“The fact that diagnoses have increased faster than medication use in recent years may indicate changes in treatment practices.”
Vuori said the scale of the issue means authorities must continue monitoring the development closely through national health registers.
THL said the figures describe what it called the “administrative prevalence” of ADHD. The statistics are based on diagnoses recorded in healthcare registers during the year.
The data includes cases identified through primary healthcare, school health services and specialist care. Officials said the figures reflect how many children and young people are entering ADHD diagnostic processes within the healthcare system.
The report did not identify a single reason behind the long-term increase in diagnoses. Finnish health authorities have previously pointed to broader awareness of ADHD symptoms, improved recognition in schools and healthcare, and increased demand for assessments among families and young people.
The rise in diagnoses among teenage girls has drawn attention from clinicians in recent years because ADHD symptoms in girls often present differently from those seen in boys and may previously have gone undetected for longer periods.
Finland has seen wider debate over mental health services for children and adolescents as healthcare providers face growing demand for psychiatric support, neurodevelopmental assessments and school-based care.
HT