Lismore MP Janelle Saffin, a member of the Parliamentary Friends of CWA, said increasing numbers of women in regional areas were being diagnosed with neurodivergent conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
“CWA Awareness Week is running all this week through to Saturday 9 September and I urge all members of our Northern Rivers community, particularly women, to engage with CWA’s campaign to improve services for neurodiverse people,” Ms Saffin said.
The term ‘neurodivergent’ encompasses conditions such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia and Tourette syndrome, but accessing suitable and affordable treatment options in rural and regional NSW can be challenging.
CWA of NSW says women are a growing proportion of the 1.5 million Australians diagnosed with ADHD and it was important their specific needs were recognised.
CWA and its campaign partner, the ADHD Foundation, are calling for increased recruitment and training of healthcare professionals; extension of access to all long-acting medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for late diagnosis ADHD; more research into long-term outcomes of ADHD in girls and women; and new ways to reduce the costs of diagnosing and treating adult ADHD.
To find out more, follow CWA NSW on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cwaofnsw.
Monday 4 September 2023
