Episode 3: The Impact of ADHD and a Prison Sentence
What happens when you find yourself before someone who challenges you because their experiences are outside society’s accepted norm of good behaviour?
Do you judge? Do you make a note to keep your distance? Do you politely remove yourself from the conversation because they are not like you?
I invited Harvey to Drawn to a Deeper Story to talk about being in prison. It felt pertinent to understand what it’s like and to explore if there is space to practice compassion for prisoners/ex-prisoners.
I knew it would be a good conversation, but what I didn’t expect was an incredibly rich and insightful discussion also about the impact of living with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).
Harvey talks personally and candidly about living with undiagnosed ADHD, how it’s shaped his life including ending up in prison. He also eloquently explains why people with ADHD can struggle with work, personal relationships and mental health.
If you’re interested in something with my condition, you can function at a very high level, but the flip side is if it bores you, you cannot function at all.
Harvey
Listening to Harvey will take you to a place that most of us will never have been. He’s insightful, erudite, and invites us all to look at ‘othering’ with new eyes.
In this Episode
- How the brain of an ADHD person works
- The challenges and benefits that ADHD creates in one’s life
- How to support people with ADHD and understand what they may be dealing with
- Why many young men end up in prison
- The critical importance of prison education to prisoners’ well-being and to society
- Why the real punishment of prison is not what we think it is
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Episode information
Music by Grant McLachlan
Mentioned in the podcast
Resources
UK
NHS ADHD Information and treatments
ADHD Foundation – Health and education service
National Autistic Society – Support, guidance and advice
Ambitious About Autism – For autistic children, young people, their parents and carers
Prisoners’ Families Helpline – Support (England and Wales only)
Partners of Prisoners – Support to family and offenders
Carers UK – Support for carers
Samaritans – FREE Help – Tel: 116 123, E: jo@samaritans.org
The British Psychology Society – Find a Psychologist
Australia
ADHD Australia – Support groups (States and Territories)
Bars Between – Support organizations in Australia and NZ
Community Restorative Centre – Help to prepare for prison and court dates
Autism Spectrum Australia – National service provider for people on the autism spectrum
Beyond Blue – Mental health support
Headspace – National Youth Mental Health Foundation with support services
The Black Dog Institute – Medical health resources, services and research
SANE Australia – Counselling support, Tel: 1800 187 263 (10am – 10pm)
USA
Autism Society – Information and support
Autism Society of America – Advocacy
National Institute of Mental Health – A range of helplines
American Psychologist Association – Psychologist Finder
OR contact medical services in your country.
