Do you know someone with ADHD? Probably. Do you know someone who has ADHD but hasn’t been diagnosed? Again, probably.
There is a lot of misinformation out there about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, a lot of stigma and a lot of discrimination and gender bias. However, our beautiful city of Vancouver is doing its part to detangle much of the mess around ADHD by being the first city to proclaim ADHD Awareness Week from October 14-20, 2012!
In 2011, City Hall recognized in a proclamation that high rates of school dropouts, underemployment, depression and anxiety can be partly attributed to ADHD and especially untreated ADHD. They also acknowledge many of the positive characteristics attributed to those with symptoms like high levels of creativity and energy, and innovativeness! Moreover, they claim that one in every two children and nine in every ten children in Vancouver with ADHD will go undiagnosed and untreated. In this proclamation they make a call for more education for health care professionals, employers and educators.
You can find out much more about some of the anti-stigma campaigns on the ADHD Awareness Week website or more about events going on here in Vancouver and across Canada on the Facebook page!
In fact, on Wednesday there is a full day of education about ADHD in children and adolescents from 9 am to 4 pm at Chan auditorium at B.C. Children’s Hospital.
Enjoy the rest of your week everyone!
