Understanding Neurodiversity: Thriving with ADHD and Autism

Understanding Neurodiversity: Thriving with ADHD and Autism

What does it really mean to be neurodivergent, and how can we better support people with ADHD and autism at work, at school, at home and in everyday life? In this episode of ConnectForHealth, the live well-being webinar and podcast from Cigna Healthcare Middle East and Africa, produced with mentl, Scott Armstrong, founder of mentl, and Maissa Al Khafajy, Head of Government Affairs and Strategic Communications at Cigna Healthcare Middle East and Africa, explore neurodiversity through clinical expertise, workplace insight and lived experience. Scott shares his own experience of being diagnosed with ADHD later in life, and the emotional process of reinterpreting school, work, relationships and self-belief through a new lens. He is joined by Sarah Christensen, Organisational Psychologist and Chief Executive Officer of Christensen Consultancy, who also brings lived experience of ADHD, and Dr Valentina Faia, Specialist Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist at BioPsychoSocial Clinic, with more than 20 years’ experience and specialist expertise in neurodivergence, including ADHD, autism and giftedness. Together, they unpack what ADHD really is, why diagnosis can be missed for years, how neurodivergence can show up differently in adults, children, men and women, and why support should focus less on “fixing” people and more on understanding how they function best. This conversation explores the myths, stigma and practical realities of neurodiversity, from children struggling in school to adults masking at work, from parents seeking answers to organisations trying to build more inclusive cultures. Topics include: * What neurodiversity, ADHD and autism really mean * Why ADHD is not simply distraction or hyperactivity * The emotions that can come with late diagnosis * How girls and women may be missed or diagnosed later * Why high performance can hide hidden struggle * What parents should look for in children * How assessment and diagnosis can help * Medication, exercise, therapy and other support routes * What workplaces can do to reduce unnecessary friction * How to support neurodivergent colleagues, children, partners and friends This episode is for anyone who recognises themselves, their child, their partner, their colleague or their team in this conversation. Neurodiversity is not about lowering expectations. It is about understanding difference, reducing shame and creating the conditions where people can thrive. Chapter list 02:17 Meet Sarah Christensen and Dr Valentina Faia 02:46 What neurodiversity really means 08:07 ADHD beyond distraction and hyperactivity 13:27 Sarah Christensen on recognising her own ADHD 15:04 Why ADHD affects relationships, teams and daily life 19:36 Late diagnosis, stigma and being open at work 22:27 Poll: the biggest myths around ADHD and autism 26:37 How assessment and diagnosis work 32:24 The emotional impact of late diagnosis 35:17 Workplace support and reasonable adjustments 36:25 ADHD in children: what parents should look for 43:40 Poll: what practical support would help most 45:37 Masking, burnout and invisible effort 47:35 Audience questions: work, speech, fairness and emotional regulation 51:36 Supporting neurodivergent children at school 55:11 How to keep performing when the wheels start to come off 57:05 ADHD, relationships and rejection sensitivity 59:07 Where to find support and final reflections

Men’s Mental & Physical Health Matters: Breaking the Silence

For Men’s Mental Health Month, our latest edition of ConnectForHealth opens up the conversation men too often avoid. Men’s health is not just physical fitness, routine check-ups, or pushing through pressure. It is also sleep, stress, loneliness, financial worry, job security, fatherhood, relationships, community and the ability to say, honestly, when things are not okay. In this episode, Scott Armstrong and Maissa Al Khafajy are joined by Chris Bradwell, founder of British Dads Dubai, and Chris Miller, founder of In-Cre-Mental, to explore what men are really carrying beneath the surface. Chris Bradwell shares what he is seeing inside one of the UAE’s largest dad communities, from men asking privately for support to the importance of building spaces where fathers can talk, connect and feel less alone. Chris Miller brings the lens of an executive coach, mental health first aid instructor and former senior leader, exploring why high-performing men often keep functioning while quietly moving into survival mode. This is a practical, honest conversation about breaking silence before pressure becomes crisis. Topics include: * Why men often say “I’m fine” when they are not * Job security, financial worries, family pressure and the mental load men carry * Why loneliness is not just emotional, but a real health issue * How distress can show up as anger, withdrawal, overthinking or irritability * Why men often wait too long before asking for help * The role of community, dads’ groups and side-by-side conversations * How physical health, stress, sleep and mental health are connected * Why sustainable progress matters more than dramatic change * How partners, friends and colleagues can spot when someone is struggling * Why taking the first step deserves to be celebrated If you are a man who feels like you are carrying too much, a partner trying to understand what is going on beneath the silence, or a leader who wants to support men better at work, this episode is for you. Watch or listen now, and please share it with someone who might need the reminder: silence is not strength, and you do not have to struggle alone. Chapter list 00:00 Welcome to ConnectForHealth and Men’s Mental Health Month 02:17 Meet Chris Bradwell and Chris Miller 02:42 What dads are really asking for inside British Dads Dubai 04:37 Loneliness, uncertainty, safety and the search for control 09:11 Maissa on boys, young men and learning to open up 15:24 “I’m fine”: what men often mean when they say it 19:23 How stress and depression can show up differently in men 27:06 Why British Dads Dubai was built, and why community matters 29:35 Poll: the biggest pressure points for men right now 51:21 Physical health, stress, movement and realistic routines 59:51 Celebrate the courage to take the first step

UAE Resilience in a Time of Pressure: What Leaders and Workplaces Need To Do Now

This special edition of ConnectForHealth unpacks Cigna Healthcare’s new Wellbeing and Health Pulse in the UAE, recorded during a period of heightened pressure, rising costs, and shifting expectations around work and family life. Host Scott Armstrong is joined by Leah Cotterill (CEO, Cigna Healthcare Middle East and Africa), Hana Agil (Cigna HR) and Suzanne Gandy, HR Director, Bayut and Dubizzle, to explore the positive story in the data, then go deeper into what pressure points sit beneath the optimism, and what leaders can do now to make resilience sustainable.  The conversation explores: *  What does “resilience” actually mean when people still report stress, sleep issues, and financial strain?  *  Survey findings such as 89% feeling physically safe, 83% feeling emotionally safe, and 86% feeling at home in the UAE?  *  Why is financial wellbeing emerging as a key pressure point, and what can employers do without overstepping?  *  What should managers look for when people are “performing” but carrying pressure beneath the surface?  *  How do leaders build trust and clarity during uncertainty  Who this is for If you lead people, work in HR, or are shaping culture and wellbeing strategy in the UAE, this episode will give you a clear, evidence-led view of what employees are carrying right now and the practical leadership actions that matter.  10-point chapter list 00:00:10 Welcome and why this Pulse matters  00:01:24 Headline findings: safety, resilience, optimism  00:03:37 The big stats: physical safety, emotional safety, feeling at home  00:04:35 Family wellbeing as the strongest pillar  00:07:18 What employers are seeing internally: belonging and return-to-office  00:10:05 Work-life integration: treating employees as whole people  00:18:15 Pressure points: financial wellbeing and job security  00:23:16 Financial literacy at work: budgets, credit cards, estate planning  00:31:12 Support exists, but do people use it? The utilisation gap  00:53:44 Stop, start, continue: practical takeaways for leaders

Special Edition: Your Health Check Roadmap: Diabetes and Heart Health

In a world of quick fixes, it’s easy to lose sight of the basics. Your health is not a single number, a trending supplement, or one “perfect” routine. It is a system, and the most powerful thing you can do is build a clear roadmap for the year ahead, understand your early markers, and know what to ask for before risk becomes diagnosis. In this ConnectForHealth Special Edition, Scott Armstrong and Maissa Al Khafajy are joined by Dr Mahmoud Al Darabie (Valeo Health) for a practical conversation on prevention, early action, and day-to-day management. They break down the key blood markers and ratios people misunderstand, how family history and lifestyle interact, and why “listen to your body” is not a slogan but a skill.  Among the key points explored:  *  You’ve done “tests” but do not know what the numbers mean or what to do next  *  You have family history (cholesterol, diabetes, cardiac events) and do not know how often to check in, or what to prioritise  *  You feel tired, foggy, or low energy and you’re not sure whether it’s stress, sleep, blood sugar, or something else  *  You’re confused by conflicting advice online (cholesterol “good/bad”, supplements, quick fixes) and want a clearer framework  * GLP-1s are everywhere, but you’re unsure what “good” looks like long term: when they help, what risks to watch for, and how to avoid swapping one short-term fix for another *  You’re tempted by “fast” solutions but want to know what sustainable change actually looks like, and what is realistic  *  You have health benefits but you’re not sure what preventive care you can use, or how to use it well  Dial in if you want a clear, practical roadmap for the next 12 months, so you know what to check, what it means, and what to do next. Chapter List: 00:01:12 Welcome back and what today’s “health check roadmap” covers  00:02:24 Where are people in the UAE right now: prevention vs diagnosis  00:03:49 The 12-month roadmap: history, lifestyle, sleep, stress, movement  00:05:45 Blood sugar markers: HbA1c, fasting glucose, insulin and what they indicate  00:06:57 Cholesterol confusion: why ratios and context matter more than one number  00:08:32 “Look at the whole picture”: stress, cortisol and metabolic knock-on effects  00:10:06 How often to check: why six months can be a useful rhythm  00:13:08 Symptoms you shouldn’t ignore: fatigue, brain fog, energy dips  00:28:28 Poll 1 and first actions for “borderline” readings  00:33:38 The quick-fix trap: why compliance drops after GLP-1s rose

Stress Less, Live More: Real Tools to Beat Burnout (and reduce tension at home)

Eight weeks into prolonged uncertainty in the Gulf region, a many people are still living in extended caretaker mode.  The practical pressures continue, but so does the hidden load: carrying worry, managing family dynamics, and trying to perform at work while feeling stretched. In this ConnectForHealth episode, mentl's Scott Armstrong and Maissa Al Khafajy of Cigna Healthcare Middle East and Africa are joined by Dr Rita Figueiredo, Clinical Psychologist and Managing Director at Peninsula Psychology, to unpack what burnout looks like in real life right now, and what helps when patience is thin, sleep is disrupted, and small things at home start to feel bigger than they should.  This conversation tackles:  *  How to tell the difference between “a bad week” and something more serious when you are still functioning  *  Why rest does not always feel restorative in a limbo phase, and what that can signal  *  How to set boundaries at home and at work without triggering guilt or resentment  *  How to communicate needs clearly so a boundary is understood, not misread as withdrawal  *  What to do when you feel flat, reactive, or disconnected, and you are not sure what help looks like  Chapter List 00:09 Welcome and why “caretaker mode” can tip into burnout  02:34 What stress patterns are showing up in week seven  05:36 The limbo phase: “almost out of it, but not quite”  07:32 Stress vs burnout: the key difference when rest stops working  11:38 Role overload: worker, co-parent, teacher, emotional anchor  15:23 Poll 1: what is showing up most right now  19:01 When to seek help: signs your usual coping is not working  28:35 Boundaries without guilt: capacity, roles, and clear communication  34:09 “Add a caption”: the small communication shift that changes everything  50:11 Practical reset: reduce the load, reduce decisions, and aim for “good enough”