Prepare to Make a Difference

Which do you want first – the good news or the bad news?

Let’s get the bad news out of the way. Every indication is that the anti-mental health forces plan to increase their outreach to state and federal policymakers. These forces would like nothing better than to turn back the hands of time in how our country views AD/HD and treats people with the disorder.

Their message? AD/HD does not exist.

But you know better. I know better. And the science shows us that AD/HD is REAL. It also shows that it is highly treatable.

Despite the science, the negative misinformation is detrimental to all the progress we’ve made. The last thing you need is for someone to tell you that AD/HD doesn’t exist. Imagine how much more difficult your life will be if this message resonates.

The good news: Recently CHADD and other leading mental health groups released the State Advocacy Toolkit. (These groups work together under the auspices of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. The workgroup is chaired by a representative from the National Alliance on Mental Illness.) The toolkit will help you make a positive difference in your state. Before using this helpful resource, be sure to read the letter that was released with it.

Numbers do equal strength, so invite others to get involved. Encourage your friends and family to join CHADD today. Or, better yet, think about buying them a membership. With the forces we’re up against, we’re going to need as many people as we can find.

Let’s get moving!

Clarke