Tell the Federal Govt What to Do About ADHD and Mental Illness Deadline Jan 25

You don’t often get a chance to tell the Govt what to do on an issue like this so please take advantage of it. Deadline Thursday Jan 25. It’s a simple one page survey no name or email required. Thanks Claudia for the tip.

The purpose of this consultation is to allow you and all Canadians to share your views on mental health and mental illness, particularly federal priorities in this area and the proposed mental health commission.

In particular, we would like your views on the following:

1. the need (or lack thereof) for a mental health commission;
2. the mandate, functions and activities of such a commission;
3. the structure of such a commission, including possible choices for advisory committees and special areas of focus; and
4. the appropriate federal government priorities in mental health and mental illness.

Here are some of my suggestions for priorities.

1. Create a Canada wide awareness and education campaign for doctors psychologists and psychiatrists so they are all able to diagnose and medically treat ADHD in adults, children and teenagers.

Nearly all of them can do this with depression and anxiety disorders, why can’t they do so with ADHD? They can use the free detailed comprehensive CADDRA 2006 ADHD guidelines as a basis to teach them

Currently their are far, far too many complaints that many doctors psychologists and psychiatrists are not trained to be able to diagnose and treat ADHD, and worse some don’t think it exists or you can’t have ADHD if you do well at school or work.

2. Create legislation to support and protect adults with ADHD in the workplace.

Currently there is none. We’re several years behind the Americans on this. They have Two federal laws—the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (RA)1 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)2—prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities in higher education and the workplace. see this as well as this.

The Canadian Government needs to show some leadership on this.

3. Create legislation to support and protect adults and children with ADHD at school and higher education.

Again, we’re several years behind the Americans on this. They have Two federal laws—the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (RA)1 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)2—prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities in higher education and the workplace. There’s also the IDEA Act The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004. See this, this, and this as well as and the IDEA Act

4. Increased public awareness of what ADHD really is like/ developing an anti stigma campaign.

The negative AND the positive aspects, and counter the myths to reduce stigmatization and discrimination, which among other things prevents people that might have ADHD from seeking a diagnosis and treatment. Why is that people are comfortable saying public ally that you’re an alcoholic or crack addict but not that they have an inherited neurobiological condition like ADHD?

5. Have the government make the newer long term more effective, fewer side effect related ADHD medications more affordable.

For example, Concerta, Strattera, Biphentin etc. In the US they are the most used and now pretty well a first line treatment, in Canada that’s not the case, not for medical reasons or effectiveness but for cost. We’re still telling someone with ADHD who has problems remembering things, is forgetful, is easily distracted, and not that great at planning and organizing to remember to take their medication 2- 5 times a day instead of once a day. Let alone the stigmatization at school of being told to go to the office to take your medication in front of the rest of the class.

Those are a few ideas do you have any more?

Please do participate it’s a quick one page survey, write as little or as much as you want and please pass the word around and remember it’s over on the 25th of january so do it today eh?