PEI funds the first Provincial Adult ADHD Program in the country
Adults living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) will soon have two new clinics and provincewide support. The initiative is a partnership between the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), and the provincial government, and will be led by CADDRA Board Member and ADHD specialist Dr. David Wong.
“We welcome this development which provides long-overdue services for adults with ADHD in our province,” said Dr. Wong. He estimates there are currently more than 7,000 people in P.E.I., living with ADHD, many of them undiagnosed. There are already 400 on a waitlist to see him for an assessment.
Adults who were treated for ADHD as children and those diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood, will be able to get treatment and support from new clinics in Charlottetown and Summerside. Dr. Wong and his team at the UPEI Health and Wellness Centre will see those already diagnosed, as well as adults who are at risk of or who have symptoms of ADHD.
“We will use a multidisciplinary approach to help adults with ADHD to overcome difficulties at work and relationship with their families and friends”, said Dr. Wong. “In addition to physicians and nurse practitioners, we will have a social worker and psychologist to assist them in different aspects of their lives, as well as ADHD coaching.”
This program will significantly reduce the current wait time for assessments, and also ensure that new referrals are assessed in a timely manner. Referrals for screening and assessment will be accepted from all physicians and nurse practitioners and possibly mental health practitioners.
The program is being funded by the Department of Health and Wellness, while UPEI is supporting the effort by providing administrative oversight, space, equipment, and human resources. Health PEI is also providing physician specialist funding to support this program. The Department of Social Development & Housing has provided one-time funding of $1 million to initiate this program.
Dr. Wong is a retired pediatrician and now ADHD Specialist for the province. He is a member of the CADDRA Board and co-chair of the CADDRA Advocacy Committee.
“The need for assessment clinics, services and resources for adults with ADHD is a Canadian-wide issue. We hope that other provinces will follow the lead of PEI and provide funding to enable those with ADHD to access the services they need,” says Dr. Wong.
