What is ADHD Awareness Month?
ADHD Awareness Month is an annual event dedicated to raising awareness and understanding of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The primary goal of ADHD Awareness Month is to provide information, reduce stigma, and promote understanding about ADHD as a legitimate neurodevelopmental condition that affects individuals of all ages.
During ADHD Awareness Month, various organizations, advocacy groups, healthcare professionals, educators, and individuals affected by ADHD come together to educate, advocate, and promote research on ADHD. This time serves as an important opportunity to foster empathy, support, and understanding of ADHD, which can make a significant difference in the lives of those affected by the condition.
When is ADHD Awareness Month?
ADHD Awareness Month is observed annually throughout the month of October. It serves as a dedicated period for raising awareness about ADHD and promoting understanding, education, and support. Various events, initiatives, and activities are organized during this month to highlight the challenges faced by those with ADHD and to provide information and resources to the public.
What Color Represents ADHD Awareness Month?
Most awareness months are associated with specific colors. One of the most well-known, for example, is Breast Cancer Awareness Month’s pink ribbon. ADHD awareness month’s color is orange. So, don your favorite orange attire or accessories, or make yourself an orange ribbon, and spread some “neurospicy” love!
Why Do We Have An Awareness Month for ADHD?
ADHD is one of many mental health conditions that are still highly stigmatized and misunderstood - even by many healthcare professionals. In fact, due to the stigma and lack of understanding, many people don’t realize they have ADHD until they’ve reached adulthood. This is especially true for womxn and people of color, who are thought to be underdiagnosed due to misconceptions about what ADHD ‘looks like’ and who it affects.
Thus, ADHD Awareness Month exists to:
- Reduce Stigma: By dedicating a month to raising awareness, the goal is to reduce misconceptions and promote empathy and understanding for individuals with ADHD.
- Promote Education: Many people, including those directly affected by ADHD and their families, may not fully understand the condition. ADHD Awareness Month provides an opportunity to educate the public about what ADHD is, its symptoms, and its impact on individuals' lives.
- Advocate for Better Access to Care: Awareness months often include advocacy efforts to improve access to diagnosis and treatment for ADHD. This can involve pushing for better healthcare policies, insurance coverage, and support services.
- Encourage Early Intervention: When ADHD is identified and treated early, individuals can often manage their symptoms more effectively. Raising awareness can lead to earlier diagnosis and intervention, potentially improving outcomes for those with ADHD.
- Build Support Networks: ADHD Awareness Month brings together individuals with ADHD, their families, healthcare professionals, educators, and support groups. This helps create a sense of community and provides a platform for sharing experiences and resources.
- Highlight Ongoing Research: Research into ADHD is ongoing, and Awareness Month often shines a spotlight on the latest advancements in understanding the condition. It can encourage support for further research and development of more effective treatments.
- Empower Those with ADHD: By promoting awareness and understanding, individuals with ADHD can feel empowered to seek help, advocate for themselves, and make informed decisions about their treatment and management of ADHD.
How The Shimmer Team is Celebrating
Here’s how we’re celebrating Moving Forward with ADHD here at Shimmer:
- October is about celebrating the superheroes in our community - both the voices that are heard and unheard. This ADHD Awareness Month, we’re uplifting the change-makers in underrepresented communities. These individuals face immense stigma and prejudice, but continue to advocate for their vision. Each week in October we’re spotlighting a unique underrepresented community. Here’s a sneak peek of the schedule: Queer (Oct 2 - Oct 6), Latinx (Oct 9 - Oct 13), Black (Oct 16 - Oct 20), AAPI (Oct 23 - Oct 27), and Womxn (Oct 30 - Nov 4). Tune in on Instagram for the best experience.
- We’re running a giveaway in collaboration with Jesse Anderson for his new book, Extra Focus: The Quick Start Guide to Adult ADHD, and a free 3-month Shimmer ADHD Coaching spot. Enter by Oct 1, 11:59 pm using details on our Instagram post.
How You Can Celebrate
Follow us on Instagram for our celebration, then check out some of these other ideas, events, and opportunities!
Advocate for ADHD
If you’re feeling passionate about making a difference in your community, try some of these ideas, courtesy of the ADHD Awareness Month Coalition:
- Hold a webinar or virtual event
- Present at a local community meeting such as a Rotary Club, Parent Teacher Organization, Mental Health Support group, or Faith based group.
- Contact organizations in your community to recognize and hold ADHD Awareness Month activities.
- Write to legislators to inform them of awareness month and ask for their participation in your events.
- Contact a State Legislator to have your State declare ADHD Awareness Month. (Google: “yourstatename legislature”).
- Print the poster available here as pdf and here as a .jpg image and post it throughout your community.
- Arrange for a local library or community center display on ADHD.
- Print up these fact sheets about ADHD and leave copies with libraries, pharmacies, and your local media (newspapers, and radio and TV stations).
Express Yourself
Whether you have ADHD, or know someone who does, one of the most effective ways to reduce stigma is to share your experience. If you have a blog, or are on social media, consider writing a post or creating a short video to share a story, tools and strategies, products, or services you’ve found helpful for coping with ADHD. If you’re not sure where to share, or aren’t quite ready to talk about it on socials, you can visit adhdawarenessmonth.org, where they have dedicated spaces for folks to share their art, stories, and even ADHD memes.
Seek Support
Managing adult ADHD can be tough on your own. So if you, or someone you know, has ADHD, this month is the perfect time to find or build community. This list by Friendship Circle includes 30 ADHD-related social media pages, channels, etc., and should give you a head start!
Or, if you’re looking for professional help, why not try ADHD coaching? Sure, there are a ton of articles and resources out there that talk about coping skills for adults with ADHD. If you have the time (and attention) to find them, you may find some that help. Chances are, though, you may struggle to implement them or use them consistently enough to make a difference. If that sounds familiar, you could probably use an ADHD life coach. Adult ADHD coaches at Shimmer not only help you identify coping skills for ADHD - we help you discover how to tailor them to fit into your unique life. Your coach will also help you set goals, and keep you accountable for reaching them. If you’re curious what that could look like, check out these quick coaching case studies.
Support ADHD Organizations
Looking for a quick and easy way to make a big difference this month? Consider donating to organizations dedicated to supporting people with ADHD. Here are some great ones to start with:
- Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
- Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA)
- ADHD Foundation
- The American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders
- ADHD World Federation
- Child Mind Institute
There are a ton of other ways to get involved. Here are just a few of the events and opportunities you can check out to get started!
ADHD Awareness Month 2023 Events from the Community
Webinars
ADHD in Communities of Color: Scrutinizing Barriers to Health Equity Diagnosis & Treatment | ADDitude, Oct 3rd, 1pm ET
When Lack of Motivation Runs in the Family: Getting Kids with ADHD Organized & Focused for Learning | ADDitude, Oct 10, 1pm ET
RSD Toolkit: Strategies for Managing Your Sensitivities in Real Time | ADDitude, Oct 19, 1pm ET
A Parent’s Guide to Understanding Depression in Teens | ADDitude, Oct 24th, 1pm ET
Seven Types of Rest for Busy Brains | Christina Chea (aka @izzieandadhd), Oct 21, 4pm CST
Discover Adult ADHD from a Medical Professional | Adult ADHD Centre, Oct 5th, 7pm EST
For ADHD Professionals
ADHD Parent Coach Training Academy | The ADHD Coaches Organization, Oct 2, 6pm EST
Group Coaching for Women: Building Understanding and Thriving with ADHD | The ADHD Coaches Organization, October 16, 7AM ET
Group Coaching for Parenting 11 - 14 year olds with ADHD | The ADHD Coaches Organization, October 17, 7 AM EDT
Living Mindfully With ADHD | Billy Lahr & Genie Love, Every Tues from Oct 3-24, 8pm EST
Improving Outcomes for Children with ADHD by Empowering Parents | Parents Plus, Oct 18, 10 - 11:30am UTC
Fall Provider Learning Series | Parallel Learning, Oct 26, 6:30pm EST
15th Annual ADHD Conference | CADDAC, Oct 28 - 29th, Calgary, Alberta
Other
[Kickstarter] KLIK (a mechanical-keyboard based stim tool that aims to deliver the ultimate tactile experience)
[Podcast Episode] Moving Forward for Women and Girls with ADHD | Dr. Ellen B. Littman
[Book Launch] Extra Focus: The Quick Start Guide to Adult ADHD, by Jesse J. Anderson
[Book Launch] The Mini ADHD Coach, by Alice Gendron
[Book Launch] Living with Inattentive ADHD, by Cynthia Hammer, MSW
Message us at hi@shimmer.care if you’re hosting an event you’d like us to add to the list.
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