Cork men: We turned our diagnosis of ADHD into a business 

WHEN Daniel Buckley, of Hollyhill, and Matthew Gavin, from Bishopstown, got chatting at a business event, they discovered they had a lot in common.

“We had an immediate connection,” says Daniel. “And we discovered we were both diagnosed as adults with ADHD.”

He was diagnosed soon after losing his wife, Simone, in December, 2022.

“Simone had been telling me to get a diagnosis for months,” says Daniel, 34, who worked in business and finance and who is dad to Joey, 9.

When I took her advice, it was the best decision I ever made. The weight was lifted off my shoulders.

When Daniel met Matthew, they shared their experience of how hard it was to get a diagnosis, with long waiting lists in both the public and private health sector. So they launched a new online service last September, called ADHD Now, that slashes wait times for diagnosis and treatment plans for the condition.

“We both knew there was a crisis situation getting a diagnosis for ADHD”, says Daniel, who has three sisters and who is currently the chairperson of Waterford bakery DessertFirst.

He and Matthew were of the same mind.

“Talking about it; sharing our experiences and common pain points about getting a diagnosis and feeling we were left in the dark afterwards; we knew it needed sorting.

“And who better to sort the issue out but ourselves? There was nobody else doing it,” says Daniel.

“There didn’t seem to be a choice. We stayed in touch and talked about it.”

The conversation started.

“We met loads of people with ADHD on waiting lists,” says Daniel. “We spoke to experts and got their feedback.

“It was much bigger than my bubble, and much bigger than Matthew’s bubble.”

Since the pair co-founded ADHD Now, they have diagnosed 120 people with it.

“We partnered with my friend, Steven Hoare from Blarney, who has also been diagnosed with ADHD, and investors Jack Starling and John O’Connor,” says Daniel. 

We wanted to make our site a one-stop shop for ADHD services.

It is estimated that there are 110,000 adults in Ireland who suffer from ADHD, with a growing number seeking diagnosis. Last year, ADHD Ireland highlighted that HSE community health services were overwhelmed by adults looking for ADHD assessments and treatments.

“ADHD Now is all about allowing people to get quicker access to help,” says Daniel. “We saw the problem of getting access to ADHD treatments, diagnosis and assessment. We want to remove the pain of trying to access services. Through our platform, it takes an average of three weeks to get a final diagnosis,”

Experts are on board too.

“We employ 13 clinical psychologists and two psychiatrists. We gathered a pool of the best professionals and will continue to recruit the best professionals.”

How was Daniel’s life impacted by ADHD?

“From a young age, I struggled with anxiety, strain and worry,” he says. “Growing up, I was called ‘bold’ in school. Anything I was interested in, I’d seek more and more, concentrating really hard. I was really driven, and I had hyper-focus.

“When I worked in a Credit Union, I couldn’t sit still in the office.”

There was more.

“I felt different, and I felt emotions deeply,” recalls Daniel. 

I knew there was something not right.

His wife knew it too.

“Simone copped that I couldn’t switch off,” says Daniel. “She urged me to get a diagnosis. I resisted because of the stigma surrounding it.

“When the penny dropped, I went to my GP to get assessed. He suggested I go to the UK for treatments. I tried private clinics.

“I remember sending an email in February, 2023, and getting a reply in October, 2023, inviting me to join a waiting list.”

Daniel didn’t want to take medication for his condition, preferring to go down the therapy route.

“The bonnet was lifted for me after eight years in therapy, I could finally discover and accept who I am.”

Daniel feels he has improved as a parent.

“I am a better parent as a result of diagnosis and therapy. I learned how to use my skills for any struggles I had.

“I can cope better and not worry.”

He can do something else.

“I can sit still now!”

For Matthew, he found sport helped him manage his ADHD.

“ADHD is a very individual thing,” explains Matthew, who is CEO of the new company.

“I was fun and happy growing up, but I know sport saved me.

“My fiancée at the time, now my wife, Natalie, had listened to a podcast by an expert on ADHD and she approached me about the subject, suggesting we explore it.

“Natalie also explored the effect ADHD can have on a marriage and she took notes.

“My brother, who lives in Copenhagen, has ADHD. It can be genetic. I tried private clinics to get a diagnosis,” says Matthew.

He got no joy.

“As a last resort, I went to my GP, who also wanted to send me to the UK. Luckily, he had a special interest in ADHD and he was on a training course with other clinicians and he spoke to them.”

Matthew’s diagnosis came as a bit of a surprise to his parents.

“Yes, they were surprised,” says Matthew, who was diagnosed with ADHD at 29.

“I wasn’t hyper-active. But I was conflicted internally.

I had the ability to choose to pay attention, but I didn’t have the ability to choose what to pay attention so there was always a lot going on.

“The blurred vision I had became clear after my diagnosis. With ADHD, you can lack boundaries, now I can be more open. My emotional depth is expanded.”

Matthew takes medication for his condition.

“ADHD is very individual,” he says. “Small things chip away at you and become big things.”

For instance?

“I could go to the shop and buy conditioner instead of shampoo. Little things like that begin to add up.

“Medication isn’t right for everyone who suffers from ADHD. It is a personal choice.”

Does Matthew look back in anger or regret?

“When I look back, I am sad for the child I was and the lack of support he needed,” says Matthew. “I wondered what life would be like if it was more organised.”

Life has taken on a new meaning for both Daniel and Matthew, who have expanded their service to the UK and plan to roll it out in Europe and further afield.

“If we didn’t have a passion for this, then we couldn’t have done it,” says Daniel.

They were men on a mission.

We didn’t set out to make money; it’s all about helping people in the same position as us.

Matthew, with a background in commerce and digital marketing, wanted to make the ADHD Now site accessible for all.

“We wanted the layout of our site to be as user-friendly as possible,” he says.

“The tough thing about getting a diagnosis for many people with ADHD is the information is always split across loads of documents and emails, which doesn’t work for them. People who are not tech-savvy can email or call us directly.”

Daniel and Matthew have worked hard to launch their service.

“It was relentless,” says Matthew. “A really hard slog.”

But the men were motivated.

“Hearing other people’s stories motivated us,” says Matthew. “We held on to those stories.”

ADHD Now is Daniel and Matthew’s baby.

“We want to put two years of pain and suffering into three weeks,” says Daniel.

The duo certainly appear to be on to a winner.

“When people can manage their own mind and mental health; that’s a win,” they add.

See www.adhdnow.ie