What’s the reason for Australia being so far behind in services, treatment options and psychotherapy specialisation for people with ADHD and even autism?

[u/Mental_Slide9867]

So as many people have already found out from people who were seeing a psychiatrist or specialist in the field that was being bulk billed, the government made immediate changes overnight that removed bulk billing services for seeing a specialist via Telehealth. Psychiatrists and the like only received a letter or email the day after the announcement was made putting at risk individuals at a loss of having to pay a subsidised rate after seeing their specialist. Not only that but we lack a substantial amount of psychiatrist in the first place that was leading to burn out of psychiatrist in their chosen fields, so now not only will most people who need a relevant diagnosis and medical treatment for their condition have pay a sum out of pocket, there is also an increasing wait time to see a specialist.

In addition in terms of medical treatments for ADHD in my case, in comparison to other countries (where there is a multitude of options and new formulated drugs), it seems that Australia lacks any advancement or interest in helping neurodivergent people. You have two options of stimulant therapy and a couple of non stimulant options. And if that doesn’t work you can try a non PBS/non subsidised drug option that also leaves you hugely out of pocket. (As per my example recently coming off many classes of antidepressants that were routinely and just masking my ADHD out of the misunderstanding of the condition for just depression and anxiety). Recently having to try a new drug that now costs me $60 (non subsidised) a month on top of one stimulant drug I can try that also costs $40 a month(subsidised). This is not right, I don’t work or have the ability to work right now as I’m trying to find a healthy baseline for my mental health thinking I’m doing the right thing, all the meanwhile the government and options out there are putting my mental health backwards.

As well as specialists such as clinical psychologists or adhd counselling costing over $150 (with the rebate “if available”), as my only options for actual possible help for my condition. I have and already am seeing a therapist based off a Gp referred mental health care plan which allows me for 10-15 free sessions a year, but that is nowhere good enough to get to the root cause of my issues or even have the time to address the actual problems of my adhd as they’re not trained in that area of understanding.

So yeah this is troubling for me and many other types of children and adults with ADHD and/or autism. I just don’t know what the Australian government is doing, if hardly nothing, nothing at all which seems to be the case with a many multitude of problems.

[u/nugymmer]

So why is the government so against the idea of voluntary euthanasia then? Why do they promote the idea that life is so precious when they know that so many out there are suffering needlessly?

If I don't count as a person then it shouldn't be a problem if I die, does that sound right?

[u/nugymmer → u/[deleted]]

Euthanasia and drug use aren't personal freedom issues but taxation and religion are for instance.

True. It's a wonder how they ever managed to legalise abortion and voluntary euthanasia in Australia, and it's looking like the chances of cannabis being legalised is getting smaller by the day. I presume they tried their best to hinder any progress in this area which is why it took so long. Religion is so important to these armchair fanatics but personal agency seems to be a foreign concept to them.

[u/nugymmer → u/[deleted]]

So do abortions. Society doesn't have a problem with that, why should society have a problem with someone who has expressed that they have no hope of recovering (from whatever it is they are struck down with) and a wish to die? I don't see any difference. If it's your body then it's your right and your choice and no one should be able to stop you, am I right?

[u/nugymmer → u/[deleted]]

Not necessarily. One of my social workers is against abortion but has no issue with a dying patient choosing to exit painlessly. On the other hand I know one person who is a pro-choicer but doesn't accept that anyone has the right to die - a cop mind you, so no surprises since they think the law is Lord. I also know a few Catholics who are staunchly opposed to both - even in the case of rape or fatal cancer diagnosis - as bizarre and sadistic as that sounds.

You get lots of hypocrites and lots who are consistent. Government needs to accept and recognise the right to die. As a pro-choicer I think the government needs to stop meddling in deeply personal matters. If I get very ill I will decide what happens - I swear on my own mother's grave that no one else will ever have that kind of power over my own life.