ADHD IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS INCLUDING THOSE WITH DISABILITIES: MULTIFACETED SUPPORT

Abstract

A suicidal sixteen years old did not want to be sent to a mental psychiatric institution and committed suicide because of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other co-morbid problems such as anxiety and depression. Providing appropriate timely intervention at the primary care clinic by a team of doctors including qualified behavioral health consultants could have helped to manage the situation on an ongoing basis. ADHD and depression in children and adolescents can cause life-disrupting problem. There is a gap in the healthcare system that supports the need for integrating behavioral health clinical and management consultants at the primary care physicians (PCP) office, health homes, hospitals, pharmacies, dental offices, and schools. School counselors and psychologists cannot fill the gap. Managing attention deficit disorder and other comorbid conditions such as anxiety and depression in all individuals including individuals with disability using integrated behavioral health consultants will help in providing high patient centered care that is affordable, and based on population health management. This is a multifaceted approach that involves medical, behavioral, educational awareness, and community support which ultimately helps with effectively integrating into the society at large.