The rise is believed to be linked largely to an increase in ADHD diagnoses among children and young people. The increase is particularly evident among young boys. Image: Jari Kovalainen / YleYle NewsMore than 51,000 children under the age of 16 in Finland received disability benefits last year, according to new figures from the social security agency Kela. The number of child recipients has increased by around one-third since 2015. Kela said the rise can largely be explained by a growing number of benefits granted on the basis of an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis. The number of ADHD diagnoses among children and young people in Finland has risen sharply over the past decade. According to figures from public health authority THL, more than 11 percent of boys aged 7-12 had an ADHD diagnosis in 2023, compared with just 3.3 percent in 2015. Compared with 2024, however, the number of recipients increased only slightly among both under-16s and older beneficiaries. When parents apply for the benefits on their children's behalf, they need to specify what sorts of costs they would need help with. They include rehabilitation services like physiotherapy, psychotherapy, speech or other types of therapies. In total, Kela paid around 680 million euros in disability benefits last year. The rise in ADHD diagnoses among children and young people in Finland was also explored in a recent episode of Yle News’ All Points North podcast. You can listen to the episode via the embedded player, on Yle Areena, via Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Are the kids alright? Finland's ADHD generationADHD diagnoses rising in Finnish children