Data Sources
Trust matters — especially when you are reading about mental health. This page explains where our information comes from, how we handle data, and the standards we hold ourselves to.
Where our evidence comes from
Every claim we make on neurobetter is grounded in evidence. We draw on a range of established, peer-reviewed and publicly available sources to inform our content.
Research databases and journals
We primarily use:
- PubMed and PubMed Central — the largest database of biomedical and life sciences literature, maintained by the US National Library of Medicine
- The Cochrane Library — a collection of high-quality systematic reviews and meta-analyses
- APA PsycNet — the American Psychological Association’s database of psychological research
- Google Scholar — for identifying and cross-referencing published research across disciplines
When we cite research, we prioritise systematic reviews and meta-analyses over individual studies, because these provide the most reliable overview of the evidence. Where we cite individual studies, we say so clearly.
Clinical guidelines and national bodies
We also draw on guidance from authoritative clinical and policy sources, including:
- NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) — UK clinical guidelines for conditions including ADHD, autism, depression and anxiety
- NHS Digital — national health data and statistics for England
- GOV.UK — government health and social care data, including public health statistics
- World Health Organisation (WHO) — international diagnostic frameworks and public health guidance
- Royal College of Psychiatrists — professional guidance on psychiatric conditions and treatment
Lived experience and community sources
Research evidence does not capture everything. We also draw on:
- published accounts of lived experience from neurodivergent individuals and communities
- insights from established neurodivergent-led organisations such as ADHD UK, the National Autistic Society, and MIND
- the professional experience of our team, including perspectives from psychotherapy training and practice
We are always clear about where information comes from. Research claims are cited with footnotes. Lived experience is presented as lived experience, not as clinical fact.
We prefer meta-analyses
Where possible, we cite systematic reviews and meta-analyses rather than individual studies. These bring together evidence from multiple sources and provide a more reliable picture of what the research shows.
How we cite sources
Every piece of Advice Hub content includes footnotes that link directly to the original source. We use Harvard citation format with DOI links where available, so you can verify claims for yourself.
Our footnote system is built into the website — you will see small numbered markers in the text, and a collapsible “Sources” section at the bottom of each page. We believe that transparency about sources is not optional: it is a basic responsibility when writing about mental health.
Check our sources
Every statistic and research claim on neurobetter includes a footnote linking to the original source. We encourage you to follow these links and read the research for yourself.
How we handle data
neurobetter collects and processes data carefully, with privacy and transparency at the centre of every decision.
What we collect
We collect only the data we genuinely need to provide our services. This includes:
- Website analytics — anonymised data about how people use our website, to help us improve the experience. We do not use invasive tracking or sell data to third parties.
- Member information — when people register as members, we collect the information needed to provide access to services, verify identity and age where required, and maintain safeguarding standards.
- Contact information — when people get in touch with us, we keep a record of the communication so we can respond and follow up.
- Donation data — financial information for donations is processed securely through our payment provider (Stripe) and our CRM (Beacon). We do not store card details on our own systems.
What we do not collect
- We do not build behavioural profiles of our users
- We do not sell or share personal data with third parties for marketing purposes
- We do not use invasive tracking technologies or fingerprinting
- We do not collect health or clinical data through the website
How we store and protect data
All personal data is stored securely, encrypted both in transit and at rest, and accessible only to authorised team members on a need-to-know basis. We follow UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 in everything we do.
For more detail on our data handling practices, see our Privacy Policy.
Your data, your rights
Under UK data protection law, you have the right to access, correct or delete the personal data we hold about you. If you would like to make a data subject access request, please contact us at team@neurobetter.org.
Our commitment to transparency
We believe that people who access mental health information online deserve to know where that information comes from, how it was created, and what happens with their data. This page is part of that commitment.
If you have questions about any of the sources we use or how we handle data, please get in touch. We are always happy to explain our approach.
We are on your side
neurobetter exists to support neurodivergent people, not to extract value from them. Our approach to data is guided by the same principle that guides everything else we do: care, transparency and respect.