ADHD Awareness Week

Victoria BC – As ADHD Awareness Week continues, Green Party MLA Andrew Weaver is calling for more comprehensive ADHD screening, support and early treatment for children and adults to help address a disorder that is having a significant impact on patient’s health and costing our economy billions.

According to the Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada (CADDAC), ADHD has significant economic consequences, not just for individuals but for Canada. “Canada loses an estimated $6 billion to $11 billion annually through loss of workplace productivity.”

Meanwhile, a British Columbia Medical Association report cites a study that estimates “the average incremental annual cost to educate a child with ADHD from kindergarten to grade 12 is more than 18 times that of non-ADHD children.”

In 2010 CADDAC produced an ADHD Report Card that rated each province according to how ADHD is handled in the school system. British Columbia was one of only 2 provinces to receive an “unsatisfactory/fail” grade.

Comprehensive, early screening can be an effective tool for supporting individuals and their families as they work with the symptoms associated with ADHD.

October 14th to 20th is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Awareness Week in Canada. The week aims to help raise awareness of the impact ADHD has on individuals and their communities. For more information on events supporting ADHD Awareness Week, please visit BCADHD.com:

Resources:

Newswire: Economic impact of ADHD in Canada 

BC Medical Association 2009 ADHD Report 

Provincial comparison of youth ADHD diagnosis and treatment