Senate Inquiry into Assessment and support services for people with ADHD

7th of November 2023

Following the release of the Senate Inquiry into Assessment and support services for people with ADHD, Jon Jureidini provided interviews with ABC radio and television (see below) that outlined concerns about the report and the Guideline that preceded it.

In response to Jon's televised interview, we received the following email that has been anonoymised and reproduced with permission:

l saw your interview on The ABC news this morning. l was very impressed with your sincerity on the subject of ADHD. I wish to write to you on another subject. 

I pray you hear my plea. I am 75 yrs old and  suffered "Familial Hemiplegic Migraine" all my life.   My dearest wish is to have Mental Health in all states of Australia over seen by Medical Doctor's. Before my medical diagnosis of FHM in about 2018, l was detained in Mental Health at least five times, due to symptoms of FHM. Fortunately l avoided shock treatment due to my protests being listened to.  I was suffering paralysis at that time, due to the FHM and l shudder  to think of the physical damage that this barbaric treatment, would have caused me. I truly wish to have it banned.  I have no criminal record and have never taken drugs, other than those prescribed. Nor have l ever been violent, or abusive in any way. I realise Sir, that FHM, is not you area of expertise. However, Mental Health cared nothing, in my experience with them, for the physical symptoms l was suffering. I was told "we only treat the mind". And was forced to take their mind altering poison's.  It was only when l was in [redacted] hospital, that l was diagnosed with Complicated Migraine by an empathic Neurologist Dr [redacted]. 

I am a loving mother of three, Grandmother of six and Great Grandmother of one. My daughter and Granddaughters all suffer FHM. Fortunately they have not suffered the terrible indignity, of being locked up in mental wards as l was from age fifty.  Mental health needs to be exposed for what it does. 

People are afraid and too ashamed, to speak out once detained there.  I have seen and received the awful treatment they have meted out. I am gratefully now on Ajovy injections monthly, these are giving immense relief. 

I know you and other good people in the medical profession are concerned about misdiagnosis of ADHD and likely many other so called "Mental illnesses".

You are up against a behemoth in Mental Health and l wish you the very best. I as you are, am only one person.  Although l, as a multitude of other's in my situation, have no voice,  no credibility since being sectioned.