Our group is exploring ways to address ADHD, which affects up to half of the Youth Justice population. We are a consortium of clinicians and professionals developing screening tools, training programs and a collaborative care model for clinical assessment.
Mental Health and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, especially ADHD, have been shown to predispose young people to involvement with youth justice. The core symptoms of ADHD are excessive difficulties with inattentiveness, impulsiveness and hyperactivity. Those with ADHD have biological poor self-control.
ADHD creates a vulnerability to other comorbid conditions including conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, anxiety, depression, learning difficulties and ASD. It is a medical condition of brain dysfunction, which makes an individual more vulnerable to environmental and social disharmony and PTSD. ADHD affects at least 5% of the population across the lifespan. ADHD prevalence in youth involved in the justice system is 30 to 50%. ADHD is very treatable and manageable. We estimate the investment in screening and clinical assessment per young person to be the cost of one day in custody.
We are exploring ways of screening for and recognising ADHD early in life and potential partnerships to rollout effective ADHD screening in the Justice System, establish links to referral pathways for effective collaborative care assessment and treatment of ADHD, and to Co-design training for those in the Justice system.
We aim to:
• Reduce contact with police, court and custody
• Reduce reoffending rates
• Reduce the costs and challenges of youth justice
• Address concerns of victims of crime.
Presenters
Dr Geoff Kewley, Neurodevelopmental Paediatrician. Geoff has written 3 books on ADHD and worked in the UK for 23 years, developing and running a nationally recognised ADHD service where he was at the forefront of increasing ADHD awareness and services. He chaired the ADHD special interest group [The George Still Forum] within the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health for many years. He now runs a practice for children and youth with ADHD and related conditions in Sydney.
Scott Beachley, Lawyer and governance advisor to the health, tech and not for profit sectors. Scott is on the National and International Boards of Smart Recovery, a support organisation for those with Substance Misuse and Addictive Behaviour, former chair of a youth mental health charity, founder and former CEO of a digital mental health social enterprise.
· Brooke Fogarty, ADHD coach, accredited through ADDCA, a member of ADHD Coaches Australasia, ICF and AADPA. Brooke is a single parent of two primary school aged children who have ADHD. Over the last 25 years she has built a strong foundation in the corporate world starting in advertising in Sydney, and then incentive marketing. She established a successful brand development and digital marketing studio where she honed her business and workplace culture skills. In her spare time she pursued a B. Psych. Science and completed comprehensive training with ADDCA, enhancing her understanding of ADHD and its management. Brooke has lived experience of ADHD.
