There are leaders, and then there are the true leaders, the ones who quietly, without fuss or fanfare get on with the work of making the world a better place.
This week, I witnessed true leadership being acknowledged.
At a book launch.
Desi and I have known each other for around thirty years. I count her as one of my dearest friends and last night we celebrated the launch of her revised book she co-authored with another remarkable person, Michelle Toner.
The book?
ADHD Go-To Guide: Revised for families, classrooms and workplaces.
From Left to Right: Dr Jenny Brockis, Prof Desiree Silva and Dr Andrew Leech
ADHD or Attention Deficit, Hyperactivity Disorder is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder in children and adolescents. The global prevalence of ADHD is about 8% depending on which study you look at. In Australia around 6-10% of children and adolescents are affected.
Symptoms include:
- Inattention, and difficulty remaining focused on tasks.
- Hyperactivity and difficulty in sitting still.
- Acting without consideration of associated risk or consequences.
While usually diagnosed in childhood it is also well recognised that many adults also live with ADHD.
The issue with ADHD is not just that it’s quite common. There has been an enormous bottleneck in the health system with delays between 18 months and three-four years to get an appointment with a specialist in order to get a diagnosis and treatment. This is especially hard for those living in rural and remote areas where getting access to the appropriate health care is more challenging.
Many private paediatricians have had to close their books because they cannot keep up with the demand.
For parents, the long wait is especially stressful, particularly as it is often during the critical time in their child’s early development. In the private sector it’s also expensive with a private assessment costing over $1000.
Professor Desiree Silva has spent 30 years working as a paediatrician and researcher, specialising in ADHD, autism, anxiety and developmental conditions.
She teamed up with specialist GP Dr Andrew Leech to run a pilot program where he would be involved in the care and management of children with ADHD under her supervision, to demonstrate this could be done safely in a GP setting, and to provide children and their families access to the help they needed sooner.
There was push back from those who didn’t feel GPs were adequately trained in this area, but the pilot program’s success subsequently contributed to calls by peak medical associations demanding change.
Widespread reforms have now been made to allow GPs (who receive appropriate training) to treat ADHD to reduce wait times and costs.
This in my eyes, is true leadership.
You might be thinking, OK, so this is good news for parents and families, but so what?
The so what being the understanding that the social and economic cost of untreated ADHD in Australia alone is $20 billion a year.
Another sobering fact being that those with ADHD who are unrecognised and untreated have a potential 13-year shorter lifespan.
True leaders seek ways to improve outcomes for their organisation.
They care deeply about the people they serve and are responsible for.
They listen carefully to the concerns of others.
They remain curious to answer the question “what could be done better here?”
Then they take action.
What do you think true leadership is about?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
For more information about ADHD:
The ADHD Foundation
Reachout Australia
