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Post by Kathymel on Feb 12, 2016 21:19:03 GMT
Some types of ADHD are more commonly recognised than others.
Boys and girls with ADHD (H/I) are more likely to get diagnosed than boys or girls with ADHD (PI).
What can we do to raise awareness and change this?
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Post by clubby on Feb 20, 2016 21:56:39 GMT
KathymelVery, very good question. And I have no idea. Perhaps what needs to happen, is adults with ADHD(PI) getting together and owning the condition. Traditionally ADHD was owned by teachers, annoyed because hyperactivity disrupted their classroom. I did not disrupt the classroom because I was never present, in mind. I had such a rich inner world I could escape ineffective, boring teaching methods and fly to the moon without leaving my seat. So no one noticed, until the chalk was thrown at me to waken me up.
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Post by Kathymel on Feb 21, 2016 2:55:53 GMT
An opportunity presented itself to me today that I grabbed with both hands. I was at the Welsh Labour Party Conference and the Welsh Health Minister was there.
A couple of years ago, I wrote to him about the lack of adherence to NICE guidelines for Adult ADHD in Wales (no specialists in my Health Authority) and was very disappointed to get a response that was the exact duplicate of the reply I'd already received as a result of a complaint to my Health Authority:
"While we expect all of Wales’ Local Health Boards to take full account of NICE guidelines, the position is that treatment should be delivered according to clinical need and that all psychiatrists delivering secondary care services are mental health specialists, broadly expected to have the competencies and expertise needed to diagnose and treat common mental illnesses which would include ADHD."
At the time, cynical and stressed, I left it.
Today, I met the man and was thoroughly surprised to find that he seemed to genuinely care about the issue. He had very little knowledge of ADHD, but listened and was surprised and concerned. I'm going to follow it up with a letter and hopefully, this time, it will meet a response other than that fed them by the HA.
I also had a chat with Jeremy Corbyn which touched briefly on ADHD in the criminal justice system. He seemed aware of the link between ADHD and undiagnosed/untreated ADHD in youths and adults.
Have to say I am fair buzzing from the day.
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Post by clubby on Feb 21, 2016 9:43:20 GMT
Well done Kathymel for planting the seed.
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Post by annie on Feb 21, 2016 10:48:22 GMT
Glad you're buzzing Kathymel; it certainly helps when you get to talk to the "horse's mouth"!
The responses you had in the past from the powers that be,seems to suggest very little thought had gone into their reply. When you next write it might be worthwhile flagging up the service to young people who have ADHD and what difficulties they face when they try to move over into Adult Mental Health Services?
We already know too many young people drop out of treatment in the late teenage years and there's many reasons for this.However, one of the reasons must be to do with the lack of specialist Adult ADHD services. I suspect in your area, as in mine, there is a poor record of data collection. It seems to me that those working in CAMHS must be aware of the difficulties they have in trying to arrange appropriate care for those 18+ year olds and could be a helpful ally when it comes to pressing for specialist Adult ADHD services.
Good luck and let's know how it goes.
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Post by Lesley on Feb 21, 2016 11:27:28 GMT
Yay! Well done Kathymel ! That could prove really useful!
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Post by Lesley on Feb 21, 2016 11:29:37 GMT
Perhaps what needs to happen, is adults with ADHD(PI) getting together and owning the condition. I'll join you in that, clubby .
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Post by fuzzywuzzy on Feb 21, 2016 13:26:00 GMT
I've been rather absent recently.....even more so than usual ... ....soooo much going on..... just felt the need to sign in to say 'WOW!!!' Kathymel .... im buzzing just from reading your post....and your experience....fantastic! x x x
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Post by Kathymel on Feb 21, 2016 17:58:59 GMT
If I might be forgiven for being an unbearable show-off, this is who I had lunch with yesterday. Totally unplanned and unexpected, just four of us from Aberconwy Labour, Jeremy and his two staff, sitting in the local Mind cafe. He was just as charming, intelligent and lovely as I'd imagined (with just a tiny bit of flirty). I was a fan before, but now ...
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