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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Failing to Deliver on ADHD Awareness: A Lack of Policy and Support

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

As we navigate through ADHD Awareness Month, it's disheartening to see that despite the yearly recognition, the lived experience of people with ADHD continues to be marred by inaccessible care, bureaucratic barriers, and a gross lack of policy reform. Kelly Given's personal story, where she's been forced to start from scratch after being removed from her psychiatrist's care due to a move, is a stark reminder of the broken system that Scotland's neurodivergent population has to contend with.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Scottish healthcare system still rewards students who can conform to traditional learning methods, leaving behind those with ADHD and other neurodivergent conditions.
  • The postcode lottery and class divide determine access to ADHD assessment, forcing many to opt for private diagnosis due to lack of NHS support.
  • Diagnosis is often seen as the ceiling, rather than the doorway, to support, with services primarily centered around hitting headlines in October rather than providing long-term care.
  • The rhetoric on neurodiversity far outpaces the reality, with policies and practices failing to keep pace with the growing recognition of neurodivergent individuals.
  • Scotland has the opportunity to lead on neurodiversity, but its policies and approach remain insufficient, leaving people like Kelly Given without access to basic care and support.

Statistics:

  • 13 years: the amount of time Kelly Given waited for a diagnosis.
  • 365 days: the approximate time before Kelly Given will likely write a similar piece about the lack of progress on ADHD support.
  • 1 month: the duration ADHD Awareness Month is recognized, with little to no meaningful action taken in the subsequent 11 months.
  • 1 year: the duration of Kelly Given's current psychiatrist's care, which will be disrupted by her move and require her to start from scratch.

Sources:

  • Pexels (image reference)

No external references are mentioned in the provided text.

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