SPEAKING about mental health and behavioural disorders is often tough, but it must be even harder with millions of people watching you come to terms with a problem you have spent your life unaware of.

Anthony McPartlin, at the age of 43 has been emerging from a 'year from hell' which has seen him battle alcoholism, depression, a drink driving conviction and divorce from his teenage sweetheart, with tabloids relishing every moment.

But what I also find sad is his recent diagnosis of ADHD. Growing up undiagnosed and finding out that you have a treatable disorder in your 40s must be both overwhelming and frustrating.

I was diagnosed as dyslexic around the age of six, and cannot possibly imagine how my life would have been without the vital educational support I was given early on, which has pretty much corrected it.

Prior to my extra lessons and support I had virtually no interest in school as each class just felt like cruel trick. Nothing seemed even remotely possible. There is certainly no way I would have gone on to do my GCSE's without it being discovered, let alone university, so I can't imagine what it is like for people who do not have the close one to one support that helped me through it.

Although there is a whole sphere of controversy around the treatment of Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, which often involves medication that various groups cannot agree on, being undiagnosed would likely make life hell for a child going through education, possibly with devastating consequences. The condition is characterised as causing inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. I watched a documentary recently where a professor in the treatment of ADHD said that these consequences usually come later in life, with untreated ADHD sufferers often ending up in prison. Day to day admin and particularly 9 to 5 work can be seemingly impossible for people with behavioural disorders and Dyslexia. The world is not set up for them.The odds are stacked against them and simple tasks can be the bringer of a world of anxiety as your self belief becomes non existent.

I think it is great that Ant has talked about his diagnosis, he didn't have to tell anyone after all and people up and down the country have a successful role model now.