A SUFFOLK charity is today at the forefront of a national campaign to raise awareness of the behavioural disorder ADHD.Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is thought to affect around 2,000 people in east Suffolk alone but getting a diagnosis and treatment can often be very hard.
A SUFFOLK charity is today at the forefront of a national campaign to raise awareness of the behavioural disorder ADHD.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is thought to affect around 2,000 people in east Suffolk alone but getting a diagnosis and treatment can often be very hard.
The new Enough's Enough campaign sees a number of support groups from across the country joining forces to lobby for more awareness of the condition.
Linda Sheppard set up the support group ADHD in Suffolk after battling to get appropriate schooling for her son Zaque, and is now a leading figure in the latest campaign.
She said: “ADHD is a hidden disability; its symptoms present lifelong challenges.
“Untreated or misunderstood, it damages lives, yet when sufferers are fortunate enough to receive appropriate treatment and support, their many gifts outweigh their challenges.
“Treatment for this disorder can be very successful, yet sadly many children and adults remain untreated due to lack of knowledge and foresight.
“The long-term costs of ignoring today's research are immense, both financially and personally.”
She said the campaign highlights the issues families have to face, and how little the government and local authorities are doing to prevent the suffering endured by service users and families.
She added: “The support available for people with ADHD appears to be getting worse, not just in Suffolk but across the country.
“The campaign is lobbying local and national government and will name and shame health authorities who are not providing adequate services, as well as those MPs and ministers who do not act in the interests of their constituents.”
A highlight of the campaign will be a national ADHD conference held at Ipswich Town football club on June 29 next year.
The key speaker will be Russell Barkley, professor of psychiatry at the Medical University of South Carolina.
For more information on the campaign visit: www.campaignon.com/adhdenoughsenough
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