A project by Global Shapers Karachi on ADHD Awareness for Young Adults 

Most conversations around mental health in Pakistan have taken a ‘one size fits all’ approach that views all brains as the same. This narrow approach commonly focuses on awareness around neurotypical brains leaving the neurodivergent brains untouched. To holistically address the issue around mental health and propose befitting solutions at large - the conversation has to take an inclusive approach by understanding neurodivergent brains such as the ADHD Brains. 

Expanding the conversation around mental health through F.O.C.U.S.: Global Shapers Karachi in collaboration with Adal Aur Sehat is leading its first ever awareness campaign on a neurodivergent brain disorder ie Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (“ADHD”) at a national level through the use of technology. Despite it being one of the most common chronic disorders which affect millions of children worldwide, Pakistan has very few mental health professionals who can make a proper ADHD diagnosis or provide accurate information. Additionally, the lack of ground level awareness around ADHD amongst the parents, teachers or young-adults further hampers the process of getting an early diagnosis and addressing the disorder. The project is titled F.O.C.U.S which is an acronym for Fighting Obstacles with Clarity, Understanding and Support. As the name suggests, the FOCUS is going to be towards creating awareness around ADHD and building an inclusive, all-encompassing narrative around addressing the mental health crisis in Pakistan.

Global Shapers Karachi alongside Adal Aur Sehat plans to bridge this gap through the medium of technology and in-person information seminars in collaboration with educational and medical institutions. The 20 minute ADHD information sessions are consciously curated on the basis of peer-reviewed scholarship and research available on ADHD carefully compiled by medical students at Adal Aur Sehat, and reviewed by mental health professionals. The goals is to present this information in the most easily digestible manner to students and general public with a specific focus on parents. This might provide avenues for average citizens to understand the basics of ADHD, understand if they can relate to this or know someone who might be able to relate, and provide support to individuals with ADHD.

The goals of the project are:

1. National level conversation to focus on a holistic multilayered conversation around mental health and not ‘one size fits all’. The intention is to steer the conversation towards producing inclusive solutions to the mental health crisis which can only happen if both neurotypical as well as neurodivergent brains are spoken of on national and international forums. 


2. Introducing the parents and teachers with resources and tools to understand about the disorder and empower them with knowledge to handle the teenagers and students with empathy and informed help. 


3. Management of ADHD: Our major collaborator would include board members of psychiatric institutions/commissions in Pakistan with whose collaboration we intend to bring policy level change in diagnosis, and management of ADHD. 


4. Increased awareness and visibility will empower people with ADHD, provide support and empowerment to get diagnosed, understand how to cope and manage ADHD as a student and encourage others to be empathetic and support their peers or students will appropriate resources.


5. After implementing this project, the hub will start with cross-regional collaborations with other hubs regarding ADHD Awareness, and push for round table conferences with local governmental bodies to introduce awareness sessions about ADHD in local colleges and universities and add resources for such students in their curriculum guides for teachers.