'Butterflies' Bring Calm: Supporting Families In Relation To ADHD
7 September 2009
Gary Robinson in a consultation session with Leigh Morton.
Leigh Morton and son Gareth.
The University of Derby is playing a crucial role in setting up support networks to help families of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) across Derbyshire.
University academic and psychotherapist Gary Robinson has been working on vital research to explore the support networks these families have and how they can be improved.
Gary has become a non-associated member of a new committee called Butterflies set up by the families of children with ADHD to support a network of parents' groups to raise awareness of the condition and fundraise for group activities.
Gary, a Principal Systemic and Family Psychotherapist with Derbyshire Mental Health Services NHS Trust and a University expert in Mental Health studies, interviewed more than 80 families in South Derbyshire for his PhD while working as a family therapist.
He said: "Research revealed some issues relating to family tensions as families come to terms with supporting a child with this condition. For example, some older generations feel that ADHD never existed in years gone by.
"However, the principal finding of this study has been identifying the crucial role of parents and often grandparents in supporting children with ADHD, especially in the provision of one-to-one care and attention.
"Overall, links between and within families are a vital help for such families and the formation of parent and family support networks are also very important."
The Trust has contributed to the development of new guidelines as stakeholders and is committed to improving services for families affected by ADHD. Gary's research, which has included detailed surveys and questionnaires, has directly influenced the development of these services.
One of the parents who took part in the study is Leigh Morton, who helps to run one of the support groups called Frantic Families. It meets monthly at the Rivermead Centre, in Goods Road, Belper.
She said: "The name might conjure up images of chaos, but we are bringing much calm, help and reassurance to our members."
Leigh, from Ripley and her 12-year-old son Gareth have endured years of disruption and anxiety on route to his condition being correctly diagnosed.
After two check-ups in Derbyshire, one where Gareth was told there was nothing wrong with him, Gareth was eventually diagnosed with ADHD in 2001 in Nottinghamshire. The family had a further setback when Gareth was told that the special needs education department working on his case could not accept a diagnosis from a health authority in a different locality.
Things have improved for the family since Gareth first attended the Rivermead Centre in Belper, Derbyshire, where Gary works, and Gareth and his family are now being supported after the latest diagnosis for ADHD and learning difficulties was made.
Leigh helped to set up Frantic Families to provide support for other families and the group already has more than 15 members including some grandparents.
Leigh said: "With so few areas to turn to for support and advice, parents' groups can provide a vital support network for the parents and grandparents of children with ADHD.
"We talk about all sorts of issues from the possible benefits for children with ADHD, such as using fish oils as supplements, to issues about how to handle challenging behaviour such as on a long journey in the car when the child might protest about wearing a seatbelt."
Frantic Families was one of the first parent support groups, but there are now others in Swadlincote and Derby. There are hopes to develop a new one in Erewash. Representatives from each group have now formed the Butterflies committee and hope to offer extra support, raise funds for a website and to arrange respite days out for the families and other promotions and awareness events about ADHD.
Leigh said: "Many parents of children with ADHD decide not to take children out because of the way society is. The children can act in a hyperactive manner, and then at other times are withdrawn.
"As a parent I am used to it but for newcomers it can be frightening to see a child in a state, banging their heads and not getting attention. For parents and families it is about offering advice or even just having a chat to others who know what they are going through."
For more details about support in relation to ADHD contact:
Gary Robinson, Rivermead, Goods Road, Belper, DE56 1UU. Tel:01773 880554
Gary.Robinson@DerbysMHServices.nhs.uk
Read more about this research and other research across the institution in the University's annual Research Review at: www.derby.ac.uk/research
For more information about this news release, contact Deputy Head of Corporate Relations Simon Redfern on 01332 591942 or 07748 920038 or email:s.redfern@derby.ac.uk
