ADHD in motherhood: Identification and treatment in perinatal mental health

Acquire the skills to recognize ADHD within perinatal mental health, and to develop strength-based, practical treatment plans that reflect the realities of navigating ADHD in motherhood.

This training is suitable for:

• Mental Health Professionals:  psychotherapists, counsellors, psychologists, social workers.
• Medical Professionals: nurses, psychiatrists, pediatricians, family doctors.

Client category:  Professionals working with adults (18+)

Level of training: Introductory

CE hours: 6

ADHD in motherhood and perinatal mental health overview:

This on-demand professional training gives mental health clinicians, physicians, and allied health professionals a deeper understanding of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in motherhood and perinatal mental health.

Participants will review the recent consensus statement on the identification and treatment of ADHD in women. They will examine how ADHD may present differently during pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood. The training will also explore how changes associated with motherhood can exacerbate or alter ADHD symptoms.

To address the issues of underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis of ADHD in the perinatal period, this training will offer an in-depth examination of several critical domains. These include:

• the inherent limitations of conventional diagnostic criteria
• diagnostic tools developed specifically for the identification of ADHD in women
• the identification of symptoms that may be internalized, masked, or compensated for
• comprehensive approaches to differential diagnosis of anxiety, trauma, depression, perinatal OCD, or physiological conditions
• an overview of frequently co-occurring conditions

Participants will examine the specific challenges faced by mothers with ADHD. These include overstimulation, lack of external structure, household management, emotional regulation, sleep deprivation, emotional labour, and the challenges of raising children when you have ADHD.

Drawing on recent research findings that center the voices of mothers with ADHD, participants will identify treatment strategies to help mothers manage their symptoms and stressors. These include auditory accommodations, psychoeducation, the concepts of neurodiversity, positive reinforcement, technology, social media, exercise, stress management, and structure. Participants will also explore psychological interventions and review best practices for medical management.

Through clinical examples, discussion, and resource-sharing, learners will gain the skills to recognize ADHD in the perinatal population. They will also learn to develop strength-based, practical treatment plans that reflect the realities of navigating ADHD in motherhood.

Learning objectives:

By the end of this on-demand training, learners will be able to:

• Describe the ways in which ADHD symptomology may present differently in women during the perinatal period.
• Identify tools that support accurate identification.
• Apply differential diagnostic strategies to distinguish ADHD from commonly overlapping conditions.
• Develop and implement evidence-based treatment plans that incorporate psychoeducation, environmental supports, behavioural strategies, and interdisciplinary collaboration to help mothers with ADHD.

Strengthen your ability to recognize ADHD in the perinatal population and develop practical, strength-based treatment plans for mothers with ADHD. Explore clinical examples, discussion overviews, and shared resources at your own pace through this on-demand training. Register now.

Upon registration, participants will receive a confirmation email that includes access information to our on-demand training platform, SickKids Academy Online. Participants will have access for 90 days from the date they begin the course on SickKids Academy Online. Following the training, participants are required to complete a quiz to receive the Certificate of Participation.

This program was originally recorded on May 6 and 7, 2026

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Updated October 7, 2026