ADHDWorks

Is there something we can learn from @LiamPayne’s tragic death?…. In my view – Hell Yes!

Jane JamesLeave a comment

Speculation is rife in the media – which must cause amplified pain to those closest to Liam.

Did he fall or jump?

No one will ever be 100% certain. 

What is 100% certain is ADHD carries a higher risk of suicide. 

Why?

The pressures of living and working in a neurotypical world when your brain is neurodivergent are intense. Add in the Impulsivity element of executive functioning many have coupled with alcohol/drugs, the decks are stacked against anyone thinking things through when intense pressure hits.

Workplaces have long been aware of the need to train their staff in mental health and wellbeing, how to build their own resilience and awareness to recognise and deliver first responder steps to colleagues. Indeed, global proactive courses are well established and known. We even have an international standard – ISO45003 for workplace psychological safety!

Is that enough?

I don’t believe it is.

Why?  

Humans have one of two brain types, which means every workplace does too – neurotypical or neurodivergent. 

Symptoms of neurodivergence can be interpreted as ‘bad behaviour’ or ‘attitude’ potentially leading to all sorts of issues including loss of talent, team impact, ET challenge, risk to brand reputation and compensation. With waiting times for assessments runing into multiple years, coupled with a lifetime of masking, individuals may not realise they are neurodivergent.

So, what else can organisations do?  

Raise awareness of the difference by rolling out training for all.

  • Raising Awareness of ADHD for Managers – what you might see, what you might do, legal position in the UK
  • How to be an Ally – how to support your neurodivergent colleague
  • 1:1 Coaching for your neurotypical team members enabling them to identify how their ADHD shows up and how they can tame it. 

As an ADHD Coach, I’ve been running these sessions in various workplaces and seen the positive difference made.  Indeed, many managers realised their own neurodivergence in the training. Others could see traits in their teams and families. All gained clarity on what they could do.

What do you do in your workplace?

Very proud to receive this today!

Jane JamesLeave a comment

Over the years I have worked with diverse people from all backgrounds. Treating people with kindness, respect and honesty has crossed all barriers.

However, I felt I wasn’t always connecting with people with neurodiversity as well as I could. Asking someone “what support do you need at work” isn’t useful when people honestly don’t know what would work for them.

I stumbled across a post on Linkedin from Leanne Maskell and had a ‘lightbulb’ moment. Her struggles through education and into work, with friends and social situations rang true for me looking back at some of the awesome people from this area who I’d worked with on both the Real Apprentice and Growing Talent.

Leanne’s experience of not only how difficult it was for her to ‘fit in’ but also for those around her to support her led to her forming ADHD Works and set about training employers and neurodiverse people to learn what’s really going on for them.

One of Leanne’s quotes on the course stood out to me – and I will be using it all the time going forward! – is ” if a flower isn’t flourishing, you change the environment not the flower” how true.

I know I will be able to work better with neurodiverse people on Growing Talent using the tools I learned with ADHD Works to ensure they have a smoother journey.

It’s shocking to discover it takes on average 7 years to secure an NHS assessment for ADHD meaning many children/young people going through the process of assessment won’t get a result until they are adults. The angst this will cause them, those around them and their employers will be stark and potentially impact mental health and wellbeing levels.

Questions on ADHD are being asked more and more in @I-Act training sessions I deliver. Out of all the mental health and wellbeing licenced products I’ve delivered over the years, @I-Act is the only one that touches on issues which might affect someone’s mental health and wellbeing but not be a mental health issues in themselves. This section includes ADHD. I’ll now be able to deliver this course more knowledgeably too from now on.

Everyone should do the ADHD Champion online course from @ADHDWorks – it really is priceless for inclusion and belonging.