& Family Support Centre
The Clinic
The ADD Assessment and Family Support Centre was established in July 2003 by the ADD NZ Trust to provide a medical nursing assessment, treatment, educational and support centre to assist parents/caregivers, health and educational personnel to help children, teenagers/adolescents and adults affected by ADD/ADHD to reach their educational, social and employment potentials.
It is estimated that between 3% and 6% of male children in New Zealand have ADD/ADHD - with most not yet diagnosed. A number of girls also have ADD/ADHD (this is an area that has so far been little researched in NZ).
There are often to a greater or lesser degree one or more associated disorders with ADD/ADHD such as Asperger's syndrome, Autism, and non-specific behavioural problems.
By March 2007 , over 367 new patients had been seen by the Clinic with over 973 repeat visits. 76% of these (277) patients were males and 24% (90) females. These included 234 patients from the Capital Coast Health area, 114 from Hutt Valley, and 29 from other areas. There has also been a wide range of ethnicity.
The Centre survives on goodwill, voluntary work, some donations and sponsorships, and some income from modest fees. This includes some funding from Capital Coast Health towards the costs of providing information and support for families, as well as the generous support of the Sisters of Compassion.
Schools, GPs, practice nurses, public health nurses, plunket nurses, social workers, police and others as well as parents/caregivers have been supportive of the ADD Assessment and Family Support Centre, and readily approach the Centre for information or have supplied information.
Many schools have approached the Centre on behalf of families, and in some cases have paid the modest consultation fee.
Increasingly the Centre has been responding to the growing need for additional support services, especially from adults affected by ADD from ages 20 to 60 years with undiagnosed ADHD and Asperger's. The majority of these patients will not access the mental health system. There are also a growing number of tertiary students and employed youths wanting further assessments.
Many mental health issues occur because of delay in accessing the mental health system, together with a culture of "blame" for many families. Most health and educational needs of these patients can be met by in the first instance an efficient primary health service system with rapid access to mental health services when required.