ADHD submission to Statistics New Zealand's long-term insights briefing consultation, 2022
In Canada, around one child in every classroom has ADHD – often undiagnosed. Many families and schools are in crisis, without the knowledge and strategies needed to support the ADHD community. It's devastating for these individuals that having ADHD can result in a score of 8-10 per cent lower in literacy and numeracy than their classmates. Students with ADHD are also 2.7 times more likely to drop out of school before graduating.[1]
Further research from the United States suggests that the challenges continue into adulthood for nine out of 10 children.[2]
By the age of 30, an adult with ADHD has a 10 per cent chance of being unemployed, earns 33 per cent less, and 15 per cent also require ‘social assistance’.[3]
Without the appropriate data in New Zealand, we speculate that these figures are similar.
What's ADHD NZ doing about this?
Late last year, we submitted to Statistics New Zealand (Stats NZ), as part of a previous consultation on the 2023 Disability Survey, to include ADHD in their 2023 Disability Survey. Success means that we’ll have better data to help us understand the needs of our ADHD community. We can then provide the appropriate mechanisms for those looking for support (such as assessment, diagnosis, medication and other therapies and support at home, at school or in the workplace). Identifying these needs will also enable us to understand if and to what extent there are gaps in the services required to support our ADHD community.
In January of this year, we provided a submission to Stats NZ. This submission responded to their solicitation of feedback on their Long-term Insights Briefing (Briefing). The focus for this Briefing was on fostering improved wellbeing and economic growth. For Stats NZ, the proposed topic was Data as a driver of national competitive advantage – fostering improved wellbeing and economic growth.
What do we want out of this?
Their Briefing provides a platform for identifying and exploring the issues that matter for the future wellbeing of the people of New Zealand and provides the public with information about medium and long-term trends, risks, and opportunities that affect or may affect New Zealand and New Zealand society.
We're looking to solicit the help of Stats NZ and other agencies to understand the longer-term implications of individuals with ADHD who are, and aren't, diagnosed, treated and supported.
In our ideal world, we understand where we are as a community. Knowing this means we can focus on and support the most challenging areas of concern. It may help alleviate the current pressures on already stressed resources, such as those that the health industry faces considering the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting negative impact on mental health.
In addition, this Briefing also provides impartial analysis, including policy options for responding to matters identified. Consequently, we'll be looking to policymakers and associated bodies to devise the mechanisms to minimise negative impacts in the future.
You can read more about Stats NZ's Long Term Insights Briefing for 2022: Consultation or download a copy of our submission here.
Further research from the United States suggests that the challenges continue into adulthood for nine out of 10 children.[2]
By the age of 30, an adult with ADHD has a 10 per cent chance of being unemployed, earns 33 per cent less, and 15 per cent also require ‘social assistance’.[3]
Without the appropriate data in New Zealand, we speculate that these figures are similar.
What's ADHD NZ doing about this?
Late last year, we submitted to Statistics New Zealand (Stats NZ), as part of a previous consultation on the 2023 Disability Survey, to include ADHD in their 2023 Disability Survey. Success means that we’ll have better data to help us understand the needs of our ADHD community. We can then provide the appropriate mechanisms for those looking for support (such as assessment, diagnosis, medication and other therapies and support at home, at school or in the workplace). Identifying these needs will also enable us to understand if and to what extent there are gaps in the services required to support our ADHD community.
In January of this year, we provided a submission to Stats NZ. This submission responded to their solicitation of feedback on their Long-term Insights Briefing (Briefing). The focus for this Briefing was on fostering improved wellbeing and economic growth. For Stats NZ, the proposed topic was Data as a driver of national competitive advantage – fostering improved wellbeing and economic growth.
What do we want out of this?
Their Briefing provides a platform for identifying and exploring the issues that matter for the future wellbeing of the people of New Zealand and provides the public with information about medium and long-term trends, risks, and opportunities that affect or may affect New Zealand and New Zealand society.
We're looking to solicit the help of Stats NZ and other agencies to understand the longer-term implications of individuals with ADHD who are, and aren't, diagnosed, treated and supported.
In our ideal world, we understand where we are as a community. Knowing this means we can focus on and support the most challenging areas of concern. It may help alleviate the current pressures on already stressed resources, such as those that the health industry faces considering the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting negative impact on mental health.
In addition, this Briefing also provides impartial analysis, including policy options for responding to matters identified. Consequently, we'll be looking to policymakers and associated bodies to devise the mechanisms to minimise negative impacts in the future.
You can read more about Stats NZ's Long Term Insights Briefing for 2022: Consultation or download a copy of our submission here.
| adhd-nz_stats-nz_lt_insights_submission_jan22.pdf |
[1] Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada, Information and resources for educators, sourced online April 2021
[2] Margaret H. Sibley, Ph.D., L. Eugene Arnold, M.D., James M. Swanson, Ph.D., Lily T. Hechtman, M.D., Traci M. Kennedy, Ph.D., Elizabeth Owens, Ph.D., Brooke S.G. Molina, Ph.D., Peter S. Jensen, M.D., Stephen P. Hinshaw, Ph.D., Arunima Roy, Ph.D., Andrea Chronis-Tuscano, Ph.D., Jeffrey H. Newcorn, M.D., Luis A. Rohde, M.D., Ph.D., for the MTA Cooperative Group, Variable Patterns of Remission From ADHD in the Multimodal Treatment Study of ADHD, The American Journal of Psychiatry, August 2021
[3] Conway, Jillian, 2019, Adult ADHD in Motion: Workplace Physical Activity and Improved Occupational Outcomes for Adults With ADHD, Master's thesis, Harvard Extension School, sourced online April 2021
[2] Margaret H. Sibley, Ph.D., L. Eugene Arnold, M.D., James M. Swanson, Ph.D., Lily T. Hechtman, M.D., Traci M. Kennedy, Ph.D., Elizabeth Owens, Ph.D., Brooke S.G. Molina, Ph.D., Peter S. Jensen, M.D., Stephen P. Hinshaw, Ph.D., Arunima Roy, Ph.D., Andrea Chronis-Tuscano, Ph.D., Jeffrey H. Newcorn, M.D., Luis A. Rohde, M.D., Ph.D., for the MTA Cooperative Group, Variable Patterns of Remission From ADHD in the Multimodal Treatment Study of ADHD, The American Journal of Psychiatry, August 2021
[3] Conway, Jillian, 2019, Adult ADHD in Motion: Workplace Physical Activity and Improved Occupational Outcomes for Adults With ADHD, Master's thesis, Harvard Extension School, sourced online April 2021
