Premier Kathleen Wynne and the Toronto Star were sent this letter by CADDAC recently in response to the Liberal party's promise for increased mental health funding, in particular for children and youth.
Hon Kathleen Wynne
Leader, Liberal Party of Canada
Dear Premier Wynne,
Additional funding in Ontario for mental health is certainly needed and very welcome. Resources are few, wait times are long and physicians are charging over OHIP for assessments. However, parents of children and youth with the most prevalent childhood mental health disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and adults with ADHD are wondering if they are going to be left out again. ADHD is never mentioned during metal health awareness campaigns, in press releases by mental health hospitals, or by national and provincial commissions on mental health. ADHD is not being addressed by our government. There are no working committees on ADHD in Ontario although significant socioeconomic costs result when we do not diagnose and treat this disorder. Abundant research has shown less academic achievement and fewer years of education leading to lower paying jobs, more accidents, an increase in additional mental health disorders, more substance use and abuse, less employment and a greater need for social assistance, more involvement in the justice system and a two-fold risk of early death. When we link these costs with the fact that ADHD is one of the most treatable mental health disorders, that students with ADHD can go on to post-secondary education when supported and become successfully employed in the career of their choice, it makes no sense that we are not giving this mental health disorder more attention.
Heidi Bernhardt
President, Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada
The Ontario election is quickly approaching so this is the opportune time to make your voice heard. You MPPs think that their constituents do not care about ADHD because they do not hear from families with ADHD, but they do hear from parents of children with Autism.
Is this true? Are you uninterested in ADHD?
Are your MPP and those running in your constituency aware of government policies that impact families with ADHD? For instance, are they aware that students with ADHD in Ontario do not qualify for recognition as exceptional learners? This identification would give them the same rights to special education resources as students with other neurodevelopmental disorders such as learning disabilities and Autism. Are they aware of the extensive wait lists and additional costs of receiving an ADHD diagnosis and treatment? Are they aware of costs to the health, child and youth, social service and justice systems in Ontario when we do not diagnose and treat ADHD?
For more information on ADHD advocacy in Canada access our past Blog.
CADDAC is asking parents, extended families, adults, health care providers and anyone interested in children and adults with ADHD to contact their MPP and those running in their riding.
Your MPP is required to meet with any constituent that requests a meeting.
We need you to do at least one of these things before the June election:
CADDAC has developed Election Documents for you to use, points for you to make and questions to be asked when meeting with your MPP or attending a town hall meeting. Template letters are also available to assist in your letter writing.
By Russ LeBlanc
As we travel down the road of life, you’re bound to hit a few potholes… make that some VERY BIG potholes. Logic tells us, after experiencing these types of potholes, we should pull over, take some time to access the damage, get things fixed then resume the journey. As for me, after experiencing one of these large life potholes, I’ve been known to take my hands off of the wheel, turn my focus to the rear-view mirror and start cursing that damn pothole as I quickly head to the nearest cliff. So why am I “different”? Well, after years trying to figure that out, I finally happened upon the answer… I was living life with ADHD! I now felt LIBERATED and I wanted to tell my family, friends, and even total strangers! I quickly learned that finding out you “have” ADHD is usually a good thing. “Telling” people you have ADHD is usually a not such good thing.
No matter if you look at your ADHD as a good, bad, or indifferent “thing”, the fact remains… there’s a lot of misinformation being circulated “out there” about the so called “disorder” and the people who state they have it. As a result, many ADHDers’ choose to keep the condition hidden (and in some situations, they made the right decision) as they try to lead a “normal” life (or at least the perception of a “normal” life). All this isn’t easy because it’s tough being a round peg when life is a square hole.
As for me, I’ve had the opportunity to work with CADDAC for several years and for that I am thankful to be working with people who “get it”. There’s no need to “pretend”. ADHD is real and the people who have “it” are not insane, we just have a different thinking process (compared to “normal” people). Over those years, and during many a CADDAC conference, I keep hearing the same thing from those attending. “It’s great to be in a room where I can be myself!” These people wanted this feeling to last forever!
In getting back to the initial paragraph, my life hasn’t been one big pothole. I have the pleasure of been married for a long, long time to my high school (and very understanding) sweetheart and we have been blessed with two successful siblings along with one impressive grandchild plus (OK, so I’m partial). I’ve also been able to pursue one of my childhood passions… broadcasting. I’ve had a pretty impressive career (at least on paper) and as a result, some people refer to me as a “communications expert”. Perhaps it’s my ability to help solve (usually, other people’s) problems with a creative communication based solution? Perhaps. Speaking of which, I’d like to tell you about something brand new. It’s something I’m very passionate and excited about… it’s “Club ADHD”! Club ADHD consists of three elements: a Facebook group page, a Twitter account, and a podcast and it’s all presented by CADDAC! It’s a place created for people with Adult ADHD... a place where we can be ourselves! As your (ADHD) host, I look forward to help create an atmosphere where we all don’t have to pretend. Together we can share our ADHD good times and “challenging” times. In doing so, we all might be able to learn a thing or two. Who knows? We may even create an idea to help replace society’s misinformation (about ADHD) with real facts! Note: Part of my “job” is to help create a relaxed atmosphere. A place to enjoy and learn from.
So why not take the next step and visit the CLUB ADHD facebook page to find out more about a place where we ADHDers’ can be ourselves? Just think, the thought alone could help make a person want to start filling potholes!
While researching this topic I came across several articles listing a variety of Apps that can be useful for those with ADHD. Not surprisingly, many of these APPS are simple reminders, or assist with time management and organization. Some are designed for children, such as Epic Win which turns boring chores into a fun role playing adventure, or 123Token which rewards positive behaviours with a token system.
An APP named Rescue Time builds reports on how you spend your time. This allows you to track time spent procrastinating as compared to time spent on productive activities. Another APP, Freedom, allows you to set the time(s) that your internet is turned off, allowing you to restrict distractions at the end of day or for particular periods during the day. We all know that e-mails and social media etc. can be hugely distracting if not limited. Others are designed to help build healthy habits, manage your money and restrict impulsive spending.
A note of caution; be leery of Apps that claim to improve executive functioning and decrease ADHD symptoms. To date there are no peer reviewed, large scale studies that back up these claims.
Articles on Apps for those with ADHD
I often chat with parents who ask me how they can be expected to organize their child with executive functioning impairments when they have the same issues. If this is something that you struggle with, or find it challenging to calm tempers and put household strategies in place Dr. Mark Bertin’s recent Huffington Post article would be a great read. He talks about using a collaborative family approach to address the many issues that arise in households dealing with ADHD. Access Dr. Bertin’s Article
I always found working on complex organizational tasks and chores as a team with my kids lead to better outcomes. Telling one of my son to go and clean his room usually ended with a room that was even messier than before and escalated emotions, not the good kind, on both our parts. But, when we tackled this chore together, the room ended up clean and we were able to feel a sense of shared accomplishment. Working through the process with my son also forced me to think about what executive functioning skills were lacking and what the underlying impairments might be. It also made me consider how I might be able to help him practice these skills.
Another Tip
Once you’ve finished cleaning the room take pictures of various parts of the room, print and post them. This will help your child visualize what a clean room looks like – dirty clothes in the hamper, cleans ones in the drawers, toys in the bins, books on the shelf etc. Most kids with ADHD find visual cues, knowing what the end product is meant to look like, very helpful.
Over the past 25 years I have spoken to tens of thousands of parents struggling with the question of whether to give their child medication to treat their ADHD. In all that time I have never come across one parent who was thrilled at the thought of medicating their child. Most parents express doubt, concern and have countless questions. Some refuse outright to even consider medication as a treatment option even when their child is clearly struggling at home, in school and during social situations. I must confess that even with a background in psychiatric nursing I had to think about the decision and it took quite some time for my husband to come around to the idea.
I also think that second guessing yourself on the decision you made, for many years even decades, after the fact is quite common. I receive many calls from parents asking if I think that they are responsible for their child’s failure at school and work because they refused to try medication when the child was younger. Or, they ask if it is what caused their child's involvement with the law and/or with self-medicating with substances. No one can answer these questions nor should they try. When asked, I steer parents away from the past and towards the present and future. What can and should be done now to set up the best individualized, balanced, multi-modal treatment approach possible. It may include medication, or it may not, but it should always be more than just medication. On the other hand, I also receive calls from adults who never received medication as a child, have been able to weather the storms, and have come out stronger because of it.
So it was with great interest and delight that I watched a YouTube video by Jessica McCabe, a young actress, writer and YouTube personality with ADHD. The video is captioned “To My Mom who Drugged Me”. Don’t be alarmed by the title, you’ll be wonderfully surprised by the message Jessica shares. While she addresses the topic of medication in the video she shares so much more. She expresses how she felt as a child with ADHD, what her mother’s understanding and support meant to her, and the profound difference it made in her life.
Watch the VIDEO
Access an ARTICLE on the video
Access Jessica’s web site How To ADHD
This brief article geared to employers and managers makes some interesting points on ADHD in the workplace that are just as useful for employees. The first being, an employee with ADHD can have considerable talents along with their ADHD which will make them a valuable asset to the company even if some accommodations are required. Secondly, awareness of an employee’s ADHD benefits everyone, the employee, the manager and the entire organization. Once awareness is there, strategies can be put in place to set the employee up for success rather than failure.
The author goes on to outline two important lessons an adult with ADHD shared with him. Kyle the adult with ADHD noted that although he knew distractability was an issue for him, not until he actually monitored his time did he realize how hugely it impacted his productivity. However, the biggest lesson he learned was from a past boss. This boss showed Kyle the benefits of having an accountability partner. Although he was initially resentful of what he misinterpreted as his boss's oppressive oversight the success it afforded him quickly turned him into a believer. Someone to check in with at regular intervals, daily if necessary, by e-mail or through face to face meetings, helped him prioritize and manage his time more effectively. Having someone to hold him accountable allowed him to accomplish more and turn in an improved product. His only regret was that he had not learned this lesson sooner.
Access the full article HERE
A new study published on May 10 in the journal JAMA Psychiatry looked at ADHD, driving and medication. The study tracked more than 2 million American adults who had been diagnosed with ADHD for a period of 10 years. The data was accessed from health insurance claims from more than 100 health insurers and reviewed inpatient and outpatient hospital visits due to motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) and filled prescriptions.
The study looked at over 2 million patients identified with ADHD, over the age of 18, with half over the age of 33. The study found that men’s risk of a motor vehicle accident decreased by 38% during the months they filled their prescriptions and women’s risk decreased by 42%.
The study team also estimated that 22 % of accidents could have been avoided if people with ADHD were on their medication during the entire study period.
The lead author Zheng Chang, of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden stated that the study most likely underestimated the effect of medication on car crashes because only those accidents serious enough to warrant medical intervention through a hospital were included in the numbers. The data also did not include car crashes were someone died.
Considering the high prevalence of ADHD and its association with motor vehicle collisions along with the high rate of MVCs resulting in injury or death these findings should be looked at very seriously.
To access further details
Study published in JAMA Psychiatry. Published online May 10, 2017.doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.0659
http://www.livescience.com/59047-people-taking-adhd-medications-may-have-fewer-car-accidents.html
On April 18th BC PharmaCare announced that it was expanding its existing coverage of medications for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the paediatric population.
Three long acting ADHD medications (Adderall XR, Vyvanse and Strattera) will be added under the Special Authority (SA) program.
During the fall of 2015, CADDRA, B.C physicians and CADDAC, called on the B.C. government to provide coverage for all long-acting medications for all age groups diagnosed with ADHD. So, CADDRA and CADDAC along with BC medical practitioners welcome these expanded medication options for children. However, British Columbia continues to lag significantly behind other provinces by denying coverage to individuals over 19, thereby discriminating against adults with ADHD.
The GOOD NEWS
Since treatment through medication is not a “one size-fits-all” scenario, adding more choice improves the ability “to get a better treatment fit.” And clinical experience tells us that long-acting medications are better tolerated, have fewer side effects, greater effectiveness, less abuse potential, and improved adherence.
The BAD NEWS
On turning 19, children who have had access to these medications through Limited Coverage will now be refused treatment under PharmaCare. To qualify for access to these newer medications as a child, they had to fail on a trial on the short acting medications. Therefore, reverting back to these medications is not an option.
This is the wrong time to remove treatment. Moving into post-secondary education, the workplace and adult life is one of the most vulnerable times. We will be setting them up to fail.
The only way that adults with ADHD, might access these newer medications is for their doctor to spend hours mining years of medical data from numerous sources, and writing lengthy reports describing symptoms and past failed medication trials.
IN SUMMARY
Increasing treatment choices for children and adolescents with ADHD using Pharmacare is good. Barring adult patients’ access to these treatment options is discriminatory. This will result in increased post-secondary school failure, more job loss and unemployment and greater overall costs to health care.
View Media Release
On Thursday March the 16th at 8pm, CBC’s The Nature of Things will debut a documentary on Adult ADHD. The documentary “ADHD: Not Just for Kids” features adults sharing their storey of a lifelong struggle with ADHD symptoms and how they felt after receiving a diagnosis. ADHD medical experts and researchers discuss many aspects of adult ADHD; that in most cases symptoms are not outgrown, that it continues to go undiagnosed, that it is over-represented in the prison population and still often missed in girls. New research and the impact of ADHD on families and society at large will also be covered.
For more information access CBC Documentary
Interested in adult and adolescent ADHD? Join us for our full day Workshop.
