Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder in Canada, affecting 5-9% of children and 3-5% of adults or approximately 1.8 million Canadians. ADHD is characterized by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity however hyperactivity and impulsivity maybe less externalized in those diagnosed with inattentive ADHD. ADHD significantly impact daily functioning and development and is known to impair one’s executive functions (EFs).
ADHD is relatively common in the workforce, estimated to affect approximately 3.5% of workers globally. Given its high prevalence, it is likely that employers will encounter employees with ADHD. Understanding and addressing the impact of ADHD on work performance can benefit both employers and employees.
ADHD rarely exists in isolation. Many individuals with ADHD have at least one additional mental health condition and the presence of ADHD and co-occurring conditions can have detrimental impacts on one’s overall quality of life.
Action from the Federal Government is needed now to support individuals with ADHD. CADDRA, CADDAC and CanREACHhave come together and is calling on the Government of Canada to create an expert advisory group as part of the National Mental Health Standards.
A national report comparing provincial and territorial special education systems found that three provinces failed the grade in providing equitable access to education for students with ADHD.
When most people hear the term Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, they usually picture young overly active boys, who have difficulty sitting still and staying focused. What they rarely picture, are bright, daydreamy, girls unable to get their school work done, or forty-year-old moms struggling to keep their families and households organized, their employers happy and their volatile emotions in check. While all of these presentations of ADHD are accurate, it is the girls and women with ADHD who remain significantly underdiagnosed and undertreated in Canada due to our lack of awareness, training and research. This is placing some of our most vulnerable Canadians at risk.
ADHD can reduce one’s life expectancy by up to 22 years if persistent into adulthood and reduce one’s healthy life expectancy by 8.4 years (Barkley, Fischer, 2018). That is 2.5 times greater than the top four risk factors that we focus on as a society, combined; such as obesity, alcohol use, smoking, and coronary heart disease, (Barkley and Fischer, 2018). In addition, to physical health risks, individuals with ADHD also suffer from co-morbid psychiatric disorders; as many as 80% of adults and 43% of children and adolescents have another mental illness.
Building ADHD awareness and assessment, diagnostic and treatment services for ADHD into our justice and corrections services would reduce costs for our Ministries of Justice, Safety and Corrections.
The lack of recognition of ADHD as a serious impairment to learning has allowed for inconsistency and inequity for students with ADHD across Canada, provinces and school boards when accessing accommodations and education resources for for their medical disability.
Incident rates of ADHD seen in the correctional population are 5 times that of adults, and ten times that of youth in the general population. Screening, early detection and appropriate treatment would reduce recidivism rates and costs to the justice and correction systems.
