Otago Uni student Jasmine has put forward a petition to parliament to make ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) assessments more accessible and affordable in Aotearoa. At time of writing, her petition - which will close on July 1st - has the backing of 2049 signatures. Jas’ petition seeks to bridge the gap between people with ADHD and autism with life-changing treatments.
Jas was diagnosed with ADHD and ASD in 2021 after a process that she said was time-consuming and confusing, one that cost her both in terms of money and mental health. “It was a long process,” said Jas. “None of the mental health stuff they were asking me to do was working and they basically said, ‘You’re not trying hard enough’... I was so confused.” This kind of treatment, Jas said, is the kind of thing that can make neurodiverse people feel defeated and think, “Maybe I’m just dumb.”
Jas and Eleanor’s plight is not an uncommon occurrence. Despite research suggesting that 1-in-5 people have some form of neurodiversity, Jas said that it is “very, very, unlikely for those suffering to be diagnosed.” And it’s even more difficult for women; since men predominantly have the hyperactive form of ADHD, it’s more easily noticeable and therefore diagnosable. “It’s especially hard to get diagnosed if you’re a girl,” said Eleanor* another woman who was recently assessed for ADHD. “Symptoms just aren’t as noticeable.” What is noticeable, however, is that women afflicted with these conditions have a far higher rate of attempted suicide than men do.
The feeling of validation and relief that came with Jas’ eventual diagnosis spurred her to start her petition for others to have the same opportunity. Eleanor agreed, “It made me feel so much better about myself… and gave me a way of explaining things to others.” She also could relate to Jas’ frustrations of getting to that stage, saying that “getting diagnosed was such a pain… I was only diagnosed last year after trying since I was 13.”
Speaking frankly, Jas said that the current NZ mental health system is “shit”, calling for there to be greater education around what neurodiversity encompasses: “Diagnoses are missed because there’s so much confusion around what’s normal.” While Jas's long-term goals in regard to education are complex, her short-term goal for the enactment of the petition is simple, putting it down to “having room for accessible and affordable assessments in a public health care system which is a step behind on a mental health front.”
After Jas’ petition closes on July 1st, it will be brought before a select committee to determine if it will be passed onto the Minister of Health. If you’re keen to help Jas and those like her across New Zealand experiencing the confusion and emotional turmoil that comes with inaccessible diagnoses