The Kazakh girls leading ADHD reform
How two recent high school graduates are raising awareness of neurodiversity
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After struggling throughout her childhood, Dayana Zhumabaeva was 17 years old before she was diagnosed with ADHD.
“I visited two public hospitals and one psychiatric hospital, and the experience was disappointing. The psychiatrists either did not know the abbreviation ADHD or told me that only seven-year-old children could have ADHD, a myth that has been debunked for years,” Dayana, who graduated from high school last year, says now.
Today, she wants to make sure that no other children go through the same experience she did – and that they are able to get the support they need much earlier on. Along with Gaukhar Abualieva, a student in her final year of high school, Dayana is on a mission to raise awareness and provide support for individuals with ADHD and mental illnesses in Central Asia.
Earlier this year, the two teenagers, who both live in Astana, Kazakhstan, launched "Hi, ADHD": a non-profit that translates resources related to ADHD and mental health from English into Kazakh and Russian, including through social media posts and lectures. They have already delivered lectures to 255 people in Astana and Burabay, addressing a diverse audience ranging from middle schoolers to adults. Their presentations cover ADHD symptom variations, myths, life hacks, stigma, masking, and barriers in diagnosing the condition.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurological condition that affects approximately 5 to 8 per cent of children worldwide. ADHD is considered a form of neurodivergence, which refers to the natural variations in the human brain that lead to differences in how people think, learn, and behave. The neurodivergent spectrum includes not just ADHD, but conditions such as autism and dyslexia.
While awareness of ADHD is increasing, many children are diagnosed late, even in adulthood. Without proper management, ADHD can lead to low self-esteem and increased self-criticism. It also can negatively impact academic and professional performance, relationships, and daily routines. Not being diagnosed also can put people with ADHD at a greater risk of other adverse outcomes. Having ADHD, for example, raises the risk of having depression – but taking ADHD medication reduces that risk.
For Gaukhar, ADHD symptoms surfaced as having trouble focusing on her studies. “I often wondered why my friends who didn’t have ADHD could easily stay focused in class and get straight A’s, while I had to spend 7-8 hours studying," she says. “New teachers during my junior year often wondered why I couldn’t focus on lessons like the rest of the class and why I seemed perpetually lost in thought, despite my promises to work hard.
As well as advocating for the rights of neurodivergent individuals and those with mental health conditions, "Hi, ADHD" is committed to helping to reform the education and healthcare sectors to better support those affected. Currently, the organization is translating and validating the latest Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults (DIVA) tests for use in Kazakhstan and plans to raise funds for free therapy and medication assistance in the future.
Dayana and Gaukhar are also eager to connect with specialists from other countries and share their experiences at the subregional UNICEF conference in Astana, Kazakhstan on improving access to mental health care and promoting well-being. The conference, co-hosted by the Ministers of Health and Education of Kazakhstan, is taking place on September 16-17, 2024.
“Participating in this conference is a tremendous privilege for us, and it will help us achieve our goal of connecting with specialists from different countries and like-minded peers,” Gaukhar says.
