VetPartners has a culture of warmth and belonging, with diverse workplaces that enable our colleagues to feel supported and be themselves.
We love that our neurodivergent colleagues bring many talents and skills, and are committed to being an inclusive and diverse company.
Here, as we mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week, Molly Mead, a farm vet technician and TB tester at Hampden Farm Vets, shares her experience of being diagnosed with ADHD and autism….
WHEN she was diagnosed with autism and ADHD, Hampden Farm Vets vet tech Molly Mead felt an overwhelming sense of relief that she was finally able to understand her true self.
For years, Molly struggled with her mental health and was told by doctors she was suffering from depression and anxiety.
While she was bright and clever at school, she struggled socially and displayed tell-tale characteristics that made her parents wonder if their daughter was autistic ever since she was a child.
It wasn’t until last year, at the age of 20, that Molly was told she had autism and ADHD – a diagnosis that enabled her to better understand who she is and reframe her identity in a positive way.
Now, as we mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week, she is glad to have the opportunity to talk about neurodiversity so she can both reassure and inspire others who may be struggling.
“Being neurodivergent explained so much and came as a relief,” said Molly.
“It wasn’t something I saw in myself, but when I started to learn more about it, everything suddenly made sense, and I was able to work out who I really am, what makes me different and why I have always struggled to fit in. Girls are very good at masking autism to try and fit in, which explains why it takes so long for them to receive a diagnosis compared to boys of the same age.
“While reading and researching autism and talking to others about their experiences, I learned more about ADHD. It is common to have two neurodivergent conditions together. Once I got the second diagnosis, again, everything added up. Being neurodivergent is part of your identity and what makes you different.”
Looking back and with the insights her diagnosis gave her, Molly now believes the signs of her neurodiversity were always there while she was growing up.
All her life, she struggled with chronic fatigue, felt depressed, struggled to focus and became easily overwhelmed by loud noises or bright lights.
She said: “I suffered meltdowns for 20 years of my life and it was put down to panic attacks or just being a stroppy teenager. I would become overwhelmed in a social setting with a lot going on. At school, I was never in a popular group but tended to be with people who also didn’t fit in.”
Molly grew up on her family’s livestock and arable farm in Hertfordshire, where they also have a farm shop. She became a farm vet technician and TB tester at The Farm Vets in Buckinghamshire nearly two years ago.
Her role mainly involves TB testing and vaccinating alpacas, goats and sheep, and she has made a big impression on the local farming community.
Molly feels supported by her practice and knowing that VetPartners wants to do everything it can to ensure everyone feels safe and welcome in the workplace.
She has become an NFU Student & Young Farmer ambassador and is passionate about increasing awareness of neurodiversity in the farming community
“Even though it is prevalent in the farming community, no one talks about neurodiversity,” she said.
“The agricultural sector can be a good sector for people who are neurodivergent, and I want to encourage conversations so people can be more open and there can be more understanding and awareness.
“The veterinary working environment is challenging in many ways when you’re neurodivergent because it can be stressful and busy, but I feel positive about my life and well supported. As a group, VetPartners is very supportive of everyone.
“There is a big neurodivergent community. Our brains are just wired differently but that enriches our workplaces.”
For media enquiries, please contact Amanda Little, VetPartners PR and Communications Director at amanda.little@vetpartners.co.uk or 07970 198492