Creating inclusive content: writing for ADHD, anxiety, and depression
How inclusive design can help everyone thrive
TL;DR
- Inclusive content design helps people with ADHD, anxiety, and depression engage more effectively.
- Key strategies include clear structure, positive reinforcement, and avoiding anxiety-inducing scenarios.
- Simplified language, intuitive navigation, and neutral colors support users with mental health challenges.
- Empathy in design creates better digital experiences for all.
😎 Introduction
Many people around the world have mental health issues and content creators should think about how to make their texts accessible to everyone. By understanding users with ADHD, anxiety, and depression, we can create digital experiences that are empathetic.
This article explores the importance of inclusive design and offers practical tips for writing content.
📊 Understanding the numbers
Let’s take a quick look at the statistics to get a clear picture. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 1 in 4–5 people worldwide have a mental or behavioral disorder. This includes a wide range of conditions such as schizophrenia, PTSD, and depression.
Specifically, depression impacts 2–6% of the population, while anxiety disorders affect about 4%. ADHD affects around 10% of children and 2–3% of adults. It is also worth noting that women are still overlooked because of differences in symptoms and tend to get diagnosed closer to their 30s.
Data from the past few years shows an increase in these conditions, so there is a clear need for updated statistics.
If you come across more recent data, feel free to share it in the comments.
🔬 The body and mind trap
Mental and behavioral disorders can feel like a trap for the body and mind. Neurons might not be functioning properly, and the body might respond to stimuli in unusual ways.
People with these conditions often struggle with everyday tasks, sometimes feeling an overwhelming sense of fear or paralysis at the thought of making mistakes.
For those with anxiety, depression, or ADHD, even simple actions can be daunting. Imagine trying to complete an online payment and being bombarded with jokes instead of clear instructions. This scenario is irritating for anyone, but for someone with heightened anxiety, it can be panic-inducing.
👨👨👦👦 The role of inclusive design
Inclusive design means creating products for everyone, including people with visual, hearing, physical, and cognitive challenges. It’s not just about screen readers, contrast, or alt text. It’s about the presentation, meaning, and empathy behind the content.
In upcoming chapters, we will dive into how to write and structure information for individuals with ADHD, anxiety, and depression. Let’s start with ADHD.
To better understand people’s needs, a survey was conducted on a subreddit for people with ADHD, anxiety, and depression while working on this article. All recommendations are based on their responses.
🪩 Writing for ADHD
What is ADHD
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) affects both children and adults, making it difficult to focus, stay still, remember things, and wait one’s turn. However, people with ADHD often have unique strengths. They can be highly creative, work intensely on tasks that interest them, and excel in crisis situations.
Tips and tricks for effective content
Structure and clarity
- Prioritize information. Present the most important information upfront.
- Break it down. Divide long instructions into small, manageable chunks. If the text needs to be scrolled, include a progress indicator.
Emotional design
- Positive reinforcement. Use praise, reminders, and humor to engage and retain users.
- Gamification. Reward users for completing actions, break down complex tasks into simpler steps, and celebrate their achievements. For example, language-learning apps like Duolingo keep users motivated by offering badges and tracking progress.
Practical applications
- Transcripts for videos. This helps users follow along more easily.
- Whitespace and layout. Provide plenty of white space and use headings and subheadings to divide text into clear sections.
- Engaging elements. Use playful elements to maintain interest but avoid complex wordplay that may confuse users.
😵 Writing for anxiety
What is anxiety
Anxiety disorder is the most common mental illness. These include panic attacks, phobias, and generalized anxiety, where the person feels anxious about different events or tasks.
People with anxiety disorders often experience heart problems, digestive issues, and trouble sleeping. They might react with “fight, flight, or freeze” responses, particularly aggression, avoidance, or freezing.
Understanding people with anxiety
We have all felt anxiety at some point. For example, when we are home alone and hear a strange noise. Is it our imagination? Should we go and check? We are going to brush it off and tell ourselves it is just our cat. The one that sits right beside us and now looks in the direction of the noise source. But really, there is nothing to worry about and it is perfectly safe. Only the thought of something might be happening makes it hard to stay calm. And anxiety disorder makes these kinds of feelings intense and long-lasting while triggers might not be that obvious.
People with anxiety might miss important details or react negatively to seemingly humorous jokes due to this storm of emotions and thoughts they experience. It is challenging for them to focus, process complex information, and they might want to give up easily. They feel vulnerable, and any small thing can throw them off balance.
Writing for anxiety-inducing scenarios
It is a simple fact that certain scenarios in interfaces can naturally induce anxiety, especially those involving personal safety, health, or finances. Money transfers, ticket purchases, contract confirmations, and system errors are all examples of situations that can be triggering.
If you have ever encountered a “Something went wrong” or “Syntax error” message while transferring a large sum of money, you know the stress it can cause. You do not understand if the money was deducted, what went wrong, how to fix it, and whether you should contact support or rant on social media.
Instead of vague messages, be clear and reassuring: “The payment didn’t go through, and your money was not deducted. Please try again with a different card.”
When writing about contracts, simplify complex terms. If you are selling tickets, explain how to use them clearly, for example, should a person print them out or a screenshot is enough.
Practical applications
I asked people with anxiety on Reddit about the interfaces they find simple, pleasant, and understandable. Here are some key insights:
- Consistency. Avoid changing texts, fonts, and layouts without a good reason. Familiarity breeds comfort.
- Simplicity. The shorter and clearer the text, the better. Remembering large chunks of information or answering multiple questions at once is challenging.
- Relate new information. If you have to explain something new, tell how it relates to what is already in place. For example, “We updated the service. This was necessary to comply with new laws. Nothing will change for you.”
😰 Writing for depression
Introduction
Depression is a global health concern, affecting over 264 million people worldwide according to the WHO. This condition manifests in various ways, including persistent sadness, a loss of interest in daily activities, changes in appetite and sleep patterns, and difficulty concentrating.
What depression feels like
Depression is not just a feeling of sadness. It is about feeling hopeless. When a person is depressed, they believe that they will never get better, that their whole life is on hold, so even simple activities like cooking, going to work, and seeing friends become a burden. In the worst case scenario, it can reach a point when the being itself is in question.
People with depression often feel helpless and vulnerable, and any additional pressure or complexity can worsen their condition. It is clear that concentrating on any kind of content becomes challenging, and each task, no matter how minor, seems impossible.
Writing for people with depression
Creating content for individuals with depression requires sensitivity, simplicity, and empathy. Here are some key principles to consider:
1. Use simple language
Avoid complex terminology and jargon. Instructions should be clear, concise, and easy to understand. This helps reduce cognitive load and makes the content more accessible.
2. Choose soft, neutral colors
Visual design matters. It affects how people see content. Use calming, neutral colors, not bright, flashy ones. They are too overwhelming and anxiety-inducing.
3. Ensure intuitive navigation
The navigation should be straightforward, with a clear structure and logical layout. Make it simple for users to get to the information they need with as few clicks as possible. The easier it is to navigate, the more comfortable the user will feel.
4. Avoid triggers and negative content
Be mindful of content that could cause negative emotions or act as triggers. Focus on providing supportive, positive, and uplifting information. Additionally, make sure that help and support are visible and accessible.
Practical applications
Several applications that demonstrate these principles well:
- Headspace. Known for its minimalist design and friendly, approachable instructions, Headspace offers a calming and supportive environment for users.
- Calm. This app is the perfect choice for anyone seeking relaxation and stress relief. The soothing colors and straightforward text create a tranquil user experience.
- Qonto. With its calm color palette, deliberate animations, and step-by-step instructions, Qonto provides a user-friendly experience without overwhelming the user.
✨ Conclusion
While all content should be created with accessibility in mind, truly inclusive content goes a step further and requires a deep sense of empathy and understanding.
By focusing on simplicity, calmness, and intuitive design, we can create digital experiences that embrace and support people living with depression, ADHD, or anxiety.
As content creators, our goal is to make every interaction as positive and stress-free as possible.
